The Role of Women in Uyo (rural) Local Government Area Development

The study is set out to assess the role of women in rural development: a case study of Uyo Local Government Area. The population of the study comprises mostly adult women and some men from thirteen communities in Uyo Local Government Area. The systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting 210 women from the thirteen communities. Data collection was done with the researcher's developed instrument, titled, "The Role of Women in Rural Development Questionnaire" (TRWRDQ), oral interview, personal observation. Three null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 levels of significant using chi-square analysis. The first null hypothesis was accepted while the second and third hypotheses were rejected, implying that women perform different roles in rural development of their communities, and these roles are useful and necessary. And also women encounter different challenges in the rural development of their communities. Thirdly, although women in Uyo are given opportunity to develop their rural communities, but the opportunities are not freely given. Based on these findings and conclusions drawn, the study came up with a policy implication that women who are found to be qualified should be given more opportunities in political appointments so that they can contribute significantly in the development of their rural communities.