This study investigates women’s economic empowerment in relation to micro-credit
schemes in southern Nigeria. The study also evaluates the benefits and limitations of
micro-credit as a resourceful means of enhancing women’s economic activities in the
labour market and eliminating poverty among market and rural women. Micro-credit
schemes and institutions which provide soft loans to women have become a critical
tool in development programmes aiming to empower them. The Nigerian government
(both at Federal and State levels) has pursued this development trend since 1985
and today, it is estimated that an increasing number of Nigerian women participate in
these schemes. Besides, it is widely accepted among development practitioners that
micro-credit schemes not only contribute to poverty reduction but also empower the
have-nots.
My research design has drawn on gender analytical frameworks such as the 1980
Harvard Analytical Framework, Kabeer’s 1998 Women’s Empowerment Assessment,
and Mayoux’ 2001 micro-credit empowerment paradigm. This study employed as its
methodology, ethnographic field research. This includes semi-structured interviews
and participant observation. In addition, data was obtained from state databases,
archives and development websites. Throughout, both qualitative and quantitative
methods and analysis were used.
This study found that women in southern Nigeria are extensively engaged in
economic activities. It also established that micro-credit provides finance to enhance
market and rural women’s participation in production and trade. The study further
ascertains that women have some control over their loans. However, increased
economic activities may have also increased participants’ financial responsibilities
and household decision-making is still a prerogative of male head of the family. In
addition, this study found that older married women in this region enjoy a
comparatively high degree of personal mobility, but restrictions on travel in terms of
distance and time are very common for younger married women. These restrictions
are sanctioned by customs, household obligations, and social infrastructures. While
problems with the transportation network have enhanced the middlemen’s
domination of economic activities in this region they increased women’s dependence
on their services. All this renders empowerment for women more difficult to achieve
although it makes a practical contribution to their everyday lives.