WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION:A STUDY OF JOS-NORTH,PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA. (2021-2024)

This research work is on Women empowerment and Poverty alleviation: A study of Jos- North Plateau state, Nigeria(2021-2024). This research aimed to enhance sustainable development in Jos-North Local Government, Plateau State,most particularly SDG 1 which provides for “No Poverty ” and it could be achieved by evaluating the impact of women empowerment initiatives on Poverty alleviation from 2021 to 2024. The main objective was to evaluate the impact of women ’ s empowerment initiatives on poverty alleviation in Jos-North, Plateau State. The descriptive research design used in this study facilitated an in-depth exploration of the effectiveness of women empowerment initiatives in Jos-North, Plateau State. The study employed interviews, Focus Group Discussions, and Documentaries to collect qualitative data from respondents. The focus group discussions and interviews were conducted within two communities in Jos-North Local Government Area, with a total of 15 respondents, providing firsthand insights into the challenges and realities faced by women in their pursuit of empowerment. From the research conducted in the Tudunwada Community, the findings suggested that the effectiveness of women empowerment initiatives in Jos-North, Plateau State, is limited due to inadequate financial support, cultural constraints, and lack of access to essential resources. The responses of the interviewees and participants in the Focus Group Discussions were analyzed under the respective research objectives, revealing that there is still a significant gap in the government’ s implementation of women empowerment policies. During this study, it was observed that, despite the introduction of several empowerment initiatives, their effectiveness in reducing poverty has been hindered by poor implementation, insufficient financial support, cultural obstacles, and inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, while women-led enterprises have played an important role in driving local economic growth, their progress remains limited due to restricted access to capital and business training In line with the findings of this research, women-led enterprises and empowerment programs still have a long way to go in fostering economic growth and poverty reduction. The study recommends that the government, NGOs, and community leaders collaborate to provide financial assistance, skill development programs, and infrastructure to support women s empowerment.