SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN NORTHERN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the socio-cultural factors affecting women participation in community development projects in Northern Cross River State, Nigeria. Two research questions were formulated for the study. The design for the study was descriptive survey. The population of the study was 280 women drawn from the five local government areas of Northern Cross River State. They were no sampling techniques because the population was manageable and user for the study. Researchers developed questionnaire titled Socio-Cultural Factors and Women Participation in Community Development Projects Questionnaire (SCFWPCDPQ). The instrument for data collection was 18-item questionnaire which was validated by three researcher experts and tested with a reliability estimate of .89 using Cronbach Alpha statistics. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The findings which emerged from the study revealed that financial and cultural factors were significantly affecting women participation in community development projects in their respective communities. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that government should create provisions for greater female and minority representation and to ensure such policies has been implemented so as to secure a place for women in the community.