Economic Empowerment among African Women and the Eradication of Poverty

Abstract

Economic empowerment among women and poverty reduction has
been of great concern to global economies most especially in African
nations, Nigeria inclusive. Majority of the world’s poor are women and
attempt to reduce poverty will only be futile if women are not economically
empowered. It is best understood when one logically consider and analyze
the Arab saying that: “if woman had not been created there wouldn’t
have been sun and moon, no agriculture and no fire”. African women
are regarded as hewers of wood and drawers of water with the nature of
their place and participation in development issues in African societies.
Women’s economic empowerment is a prerequisite for sustainable
development, (eradication of poverty) and pro-poor growth. To this
end this paper examines factors militating against women participation
and measures to achieving women’s economic empowerment which
requires sound public policies, a holistic approach and long-term
commitment and gender-specific perspectives which must be integrated
at the design stage of policy and programming. The paper recommends
that women should have equal access to assets and services; infrastructure
programmes should be designed considering the poor, both men and
women, and equality in employment opportunities in recognition of
women’s vast unpaid work. This will not only increase specialization
but also utilize the mass population which is lying idle in our societies to
naturally diversify the economy.