IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL GENDER POLICY AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN KADUNA STATE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL GENDER POLICY AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN KADUNA STATE

Abstract:

This study focused on the implementation of the capacity building and skills development component of the National Gender Policy and its impact on women empowerment in Kaduna state. In her efforts to bridge gender gaps arising from women marginalisation, Nigeria has signed and ratified several global and regional treaties which have made her evolved policies culminating into programmes and projects promoting women empowerment and gender equality. The recent of them is the National Gender Policy. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to assess the implementation of the capacity building and skills development component of the National Gender Policy and its impact on women empowerment in Kaduna state with a specific focus on skills acquisition programmes being executed by Kaduna State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. The study was anchored on the Gender and Development Approach. The study, a survey research was conducted in three LGAs of Kaduna state. Data were generated using interview and questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics to answer the research questions while chi-square was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that the programmes have slightly empowered women in the state as their financial status have visibly improved, as they now contribute more financially to their family upkeep; they now participate more in household decision making;but they still have relatively low financial capability to acquire household assets and make small investments. Nevertheless, some severe challenges were identified. They include poor and inconsistent funding, inadequate working tools, shortage of technical personnel, poorly equipped women centers and noninvolvement of women in planning of the programmes. The study therefore recommended immediate implementation of other empowerment programs contained in the capacity building and skills development component of the NGP, especially the microcredit scheme and adult literacy to complement the skills acquisition programme and efforts be made to address aspects of culture that inhibit women’s active participation in public spheres. In addition, adequate and timely funding, adequate technical personnel, engaging women in planning of the programmes and an effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism should be ensured.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL GENDER POLICY AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN KADUNA STATE

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