GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME: ITS EFFECT ON WOMEN DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN AKWA IBOM STATE

The study investigated the effects of government enterprise empowerment programme on women development in rural communities in Akwa Ibom State using four selected local government councils namely; Abak, Ibiono Ibom, Uruan and Etinan as case studies. The study adopted the modernization and empowerment theories which promote women empowerment and establish a link between cultural modernity with a high value for gender equality. It also adopts a simple percentage method of data analysis, especially the use of frequency tables and convenient sampling technique to collect data from 399 respondents with the aid of a 12 item questionnaire. The respondents comprised rural women empowered by government based on marital status, mode of occupation and age. The findings revealed that most rural women have benefited from government empowerment programme where free fertilizers, sewing, knitting and hand craft training programmes have been provided to rural women. On the contrary, the findings revealed that most empowerment officials have diverted funds and facilities meant to develop rural women. This is why government should put monitoring team in place to assess how empowerment schemes are executed.