CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN TO THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF OVIA NORTH - EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

This study explored women’s contribution to socio-economic development of Ovia North - East Local Government Area of Edo State. It explores how women has made impactful contributions to the development of Ovia North-East. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study as five (5) research questions were raised to guide the investigation and the population of the study consisted of women residing in Ovia North-East Local Government Area while a total of one hundred (100) respondents were randomly selected as the sample size. A structured questionnaire titled Contribution of Women to The Socio-Economic Development Questionnaire (CWSEDQ) was used to collect data from respondents. The research instrument was validated by experts in the Department of Adult and Continuing Education. Data collected were statistically analyzed using frequency counts, simple percentage, mean scores and standard deviations. The results were presented in tables showing respondent’s responses and the decisions made based on the established decision rule. The findings revealed that women contribute significantly to socio-economic development, particularly in agriculture, small-scale enterprises, community development, family welfare, and local trade. The study further showed that women’s economic activities have a strong positive impact on household income and poverty reduction, as ix their involvement in business, cooperatives, and entrepreneurial ventures improves financial stability and living standards. Furthermore, women’s education was shown to be a major determinant of their socio-economic contribution, as educated women demonstrated higher participation, better decision-making, and stronger engagement in leadership and community development. Based on these findings, the study recommends improving women’s access to education, addressing cultural barriers through awareness campaigns among others. These measures are essential for enhancing women’s contributions to sustainable socio- economic development in Ovia North-East.