Community Development and the Role of Women in Nigeria (a Case Study of Etsako East Local Government, Edo State)

ABSTRACT This study sought to examine “Community development and the role of women in Nigeria (A Study of Etsako East Local Government, Edo State)” Women participation in Community Development has been generally less than encouraging despite their numerical strength in the global world. Rural women’s involvement in development has been the focus of intensive debates at most national and international forums in the past years. The study adopts secondary method of data collection. The findings made in the course of the study reveals that there is a yawning gap in the level of involvement of male and female gender in the development of the Nigerian society especially in the political economy of the country. It concluded that the less involvement of the female folk has contributed in no small measure to the backwardness of the country despite the enormous resources with which the country is endowed. The study further recommended that government in partnership with community Development partners should not only provide modern farm implements such as tractor, planters, harvesters etc to the rural women farmers but also educate them on how to use these implements to enhance their production since the lives of millions of Nigerians depends heavily on proceeds from agriculture, also women should be allowed to take active part in national politics in order to give them the equal opportunity.