Successive governments in Nigeria between 1995 and 1999 designed and
im plemented women oriented programmes to develop their capabilities and
empower them. The programmes focused on increasing their knowledge, skills, and
participation in the areas o f agriculture, home economics, education and politics,
aim ed at breaking down social barriers that have prevented rural women from
taking an active part in community affairs and overall development. Unfortunately,
these rural women are fa r from the scene o f these programmes and could be seen as
totally excluded. Against this background, it becomes poignant to address the issues
that are affecting the rural women's participation in development programmes, in
order to reposition them towards development o f themselves, and consequently
contributing positively to the entire social structure. Utilizing an empirical finding
from a sam ple o f 187conducted on rural women in Vandeikya Benue State, this
paper exam ined the implementation o f women's development program m es in
Nigeria, using Vendeiyka study to demonstrate the situation. The paper also
identified and addressed the main cultural factors associated with the rural women's
low participation in the programmes, and the relationship between expected benefits
fro m the program m e and the participation action. Based on the major findings o f the
Vendeiyka study, suggestions are made on how rural wom en's participation and
contribution in development programmes could be improved.