THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL LIVE OF UTEKON VILLAGE IN THE PRE-COLONIAL TIMES

Literature on Nigeria’s social-economic and political development is relatively silent on the contributions of women. The awareness about the role of women in development gained momentum in the latter half of the 1980’s 1 . However, the contributions of women to the development of states in Nigeria cannot be over emphasized. Women have been a huge support to men in the development of states and kingdoms in Africa especially in sub-Sahara Africa. Although several scholars have submitted that the reason for the obvious silence, is because the issue of patriarchy which is still in practice in almost every part of Africa 2 . During the pre-colonial era, Nigerian women contributed to the sustenance of their immediate family and society at large through collective efforts. Pre-colonial Nigerian economy was basically at a sustenance level and Nigerian women participated effectively in this economy. Apart from being mothers and wives, and taking charge of domestic sector, women contributed substantially to the production and distribution of goods and services 3 . In fact, they were also incharge of subsistent farming of food crops that fed their families on a daily basis. They were involved in pottery making, Bead making as well as weaving, especially in the various communities in Benin kingdom. In northern Nigeria, even the women in Purdah were involved in food processing and also traded with neighbouring states with the aid of their children