1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
According to Lele (1957:10) rural development of the living standard of the people of low income population residing in rural areas and making the process of their development self-sustaining. The above definition of rural development point to common fact that rural development has to do with improving the quality of life of rural people. It is the process of empowering the rural people by harnessing and mobilizing their human and material resources.
Diejenoah, (1993:2) sees it as a process of increasing not only the level of per capital in the rural population, but also their standard of living depending on such factors as food and nutrition, health education, housing recreation and security. This is for the better and providing their socio-economic needs ranging from employment, qualitative health care, improved nutrition, adequate and comfortable accommodation, good quality education and security.
Moreso, as Onyiruka, (1989:2) would opine, it is changes in the social and economic structures, institutions, relationship and processes in the context of rural population.
Again, Mabogunje (1980:5) state that it is a broadened reorganization and mobilization of rural masses so as to enhanced the changes consequent upon this – and it also necessitates the involvement of the people in the political decision making process.
According to Eze, (1997:3) The role of women in rural development is to bring upward growth rate of positive improvement or transformation in the life pattern of inhabitants and production environment women brings introduction of necessary plan stragegies and modern facilities to achieve the tastes in rural communities transformation proves.
They aim at increasing production and raise productivity among members of the community. It is based on the premise that improvement in productivity among members of the community.
It is based on the premise that improvement in productivity enhance food supplies and nutrition of rural inhabitants as well as their overall contribution to national economy.
The role or women in national development cannot be overemphasized, they played vital role in the areas of health, education, planned settlement, employment opportunities, elimination of poverty, effective communication facilities and infrastructural development.
Since it is necessary to take a particular community or areas as a case study of the research, we consider it wise to briefly discuss the his of Idemili South local government which serves as a case study of the research.
Idemili south is found in Anambra state, it is a rural area which is made up of six communities; Akwukwuato, Akwa-etiti, Ojoto, Nnobi and Nnakwa as a rural, the people depend much of traditional practices in pursuit of their well being because of its’ traditional out look women in the community contributed towards the development of the community as well as related to house hold or complete with men folk, although women in community to organize meetings or operate as a theft society.
However, the introduction of the better life programme for rural women 1987 making a turning point in the history of Idemili south as it afforded the women in community ample opportunity to make their mark in the development process.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
For the decades women have been considered as inferior or weaker sex to men. This renders them into psychological trauma of not working up to their status.
But currently it is evidence that what man can do women can do it better. However this project work shall be addressing the following problems;
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
There is always a motivating factor in every research. The aim of the research is as follows;
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
* What are the problems militating against the proper development of Idemili south community?
* What is the level of government interference in the activities of women in Idemili south local government areas?
* What source in Idemili south income do women organization in Idemili south local government area have in developing area?
* How many development project have the women expected in your community?
* What are the importance of rural women in this our past age?
* The notion that women are weaker vessels and it have any effect on development of the community?
* Did women in Idemili south noted for only food production in present areas?
* Did women in Idemili south noted for only food production in present areas?
* Are women so relevant in the development of rural areas, especially in Idemili south local government area?
1.5 SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY
The significant of this study lies in the fact that it will help a lot of people to appreciate the role of women in rural development.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study is the impact of women in growth and rural development in Anambra state. A case study of Idemili south local government area, it is made up of six communities and assumed that 50 persons are selected from the each community so 300 questionnaires are distributed.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The researcher encountered the following problems;
In the course of writing and carrying out this project work, the research encountered many difficulties; some errors in the results of the research and from external sources of data collection. These are factors standing as constraints thereby limiting the effect of the research result.
Among these are, time finance , scope and use of wrong statistics in data analysis, due to time limit, the research work is a time consuming one. A lot of time is taken to observe the subjects.
Most times the behaviour of the staff changes even when they are aware that they are being observed by the researcher, this is by taking their behavior. The researcher also observed that these senior staff some time give true and false information in order to cover their branches.
At sometime the research work lasted over two months due to large scope of area of the study.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
For clarity and effective understanding of the research presentation, the researcher defines some basic concept in his research.
Again human right that lie at the improvement of self decision regarding to education, participation, mobility, economic independent, public speaking awareness and exercise of right, political participation and many more factors. Because majority of these women are fully house wives, petty traders, who may be living to contribute but have poor source of finance.
Again, high cost of providing infrastructure and welfare service at the same time, they are over burdened with many functions, which they are ill-equipped to perform.
1.9 Organization of the Study.
The first chapter of this study will focus on introduction with several sub-heading under this chapter like; Background to the study, statement of the problem, research questions, purpose of the study, research propositions, significance of the study, scope of the study, methods of data collection, method of data analysis, limitations of the study, definitions of term. The second chapter focuses on literature review and theoretical framework. The third chapter will focus on the research methodology. The fourth chapter will focus on data presentation and analysis of research questions and the final chapter will focus on summary, conclusion and recommendations.