WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE (A STUDY OF AGUATA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA)

ABSTRACT This study investigated women empowerment as a tool for rural development; with focus on Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State. In doing that, three research questions and three objectives of the study were raised to guide the work. It utilized the qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection and analysis, with the system theory serving as the theoretical framework of analysis. The study adopted survey method and simple random sampling technique as the research design and sampling technique respectively. The findings indicate that empowering women through skill acquisition will contribute to rural development. It also revealed that cultural inhibitions impedes empowering women politically. The study therefore recommends that cultural practices that inhibit women from being empowered politically should be abolished. It also recommends that skill acquisition programmes should be set up in rural areas to empower women.