The challenges and constraints of rural women informal economic activities in Ogun State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The introduction of structural adjustment programmes  in 1980’s coupled with austerities of neoliberal economic reforms, the globalization of culture, capital, and information have had a significant influence on the informal economy. Women in rural areas, including female-headed households who would ordinarily be homemakers alone in their own right and locality are increasingly forced by economic downturns to participate in informal economic activities in search of income to support their families or even to become breadwinners. Yet, there are certain environmental, economic, and socio-cultural factors that hinder them in their informal economic activities

The focus of this paper therefore is to examine various socio-cultural, economic, and environmental challenges of informal economic activities in the development process of rural areas by rural women in Ogun State, Nigeria. In addition, this paper aims to identify the types of economic activities engage in by rural women and to identify the challenges and constraints faced by women in their economic activities. The significance of this research work is that we will be able to obtain better insights into the dynamics of persistent gender inequalities and the challenges of the rural informal economy in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on feminists’ theory. 1000 respondents will be selected through multi-stage sampling technique. The study will involve triangulation of method of data collection. The quantitative method will involve the use of questionnaire, while qualitative method of data collection will involve observation, and in-depth interview and Key-Informant interview. Information collected quantitatively will be analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data will be analyzed through content analysis and ethnographic summaries. It is hoped that the research will revealed the constraints of rural women in informal economic activities so that better recommendations that will be geared towards the improvement of rural women’s work in the informal economy will be made.