I.O. OSEMWENGIE

Man is an economic creature and from early times, he has been actively engaged in the business of making a living from his environment1. Over the years, mankind in Uromi and everywhere has built a symbiotic relationship with his earthly home. And this has resulted for him undertaking a diversity of economic activities in his quest for survival; which cumulatively constitute the economy of his nation. Economic development in post-colonial Uromi was largely dependent on the extent to which individual successfully mastered and engaged in these activities, that is, the level of his adept management and exploitation of his environment and its inherent resources. Fittingly, G.A. Petch observes that the word economics is derived from two Greek words: oikos (meaning ‘house’) and nemo (meaning ‘to manage’), which collectively means to manage a house.2 Implicit in this understanding is the fact that, in all societies, the cardinal responsibility of man, as an economic creature, is to effectively manage and harness all the resources found in his environment in order to fully maximize the total utility derivable from them.

The study utilizes a qualitative historical approach, drawing on oral traditions, ethnographic data, and secondary historical sources. The findings reveal that the pre-colonial Ibesikpo woman enjoyed a high degree of autonomy and institutionalized authority that was later disrupted by colonial administrative structures. This research concludes that understanding the historical roles of these women is essential for contemporary gender-inclusive development policies in Akwa Ibom State, as it highlights a precedent of female leadership and economic independence that predates modern Western influence.

The palm tree, Elaeis Guineensis is one of the most economically significant plant in tropical Africa, renowned for its versatile use in food, trade and craftsmanship. In the pre-colonial West Africa, the palm tree was the backbone of many rural communities. 8
Providing not only a steady source of food, but also contributing to local and regional trade systems. It various products including palm oil, palm wine and palm kernel makes it invaluable to many communities.

People from different communities around the world have interacted with one
another in a variety of ways for their benefit from the beginning of time. This link has
been studied from both an intra-group and an inter-group perspective over time. Worldwide political, economic, and socio-cultural progress of people and societies can be
attributed to both types of integration. This is especially true because no society can exist
in isolation from others; no society can live and flourish in this way. Thus, reality has
influenced both inter-group cooperation and integration as well as inter-group relations
on a global scale. From pre-colonial times to 1900, the Benin and Urhobo people were
farmers, focusing on cassava, yam, plantain, and vegetables. They relied on neighbors for
essential products like salt, fish, clay, and pepper. Factors like geography, climate, economic resources, food supply, and contact with other civilizations influenced their
inter-group relations, with language being a barrier.