PUBLIC ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION COMPONENT OF THE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME IN ANAMBRA STATE, SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

Abstract

The importance of education as a strategy of women empowerment cannot be over emphasized. This is because when women are educated, they contribute meaningfully to national development. Sequel to this fact, the key objective of this field research was to ascertain how members of the public assessed the inclusion and performance of education component in women empowerment programme in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. Anchored on functionalist platform, 185 adults were randomly selected as respondents. It was observed that education which performs the function of: transmitting culture, promoting social and political integration as well as maintaining social control and serving as agent of change was accommodated as a major tool of women empowerment in Anambra state. However, it was also found out that adult education aspect for women is not receiving adequate attention yet. The study recommended that the state government should make girl child education free and compulsory as well as proactively address issues of adult education for older women in the state.