STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examines the strategies for improving the standard of women empowerment programmes in Nigeria which have not been adequately maintained and sustained over the years. The paper shows that despite the laudable programmes put in place by education agencies to elevate the status of women, certain factors tend to hinder access to the successful utilization of education opportunities by women. The paper discusses the concepts of empowerment and development, highlights the empowerment programmes and the situational analysis of women educational status and recommends, among others, that the empowerment of women should start from the grassroots by organizing training programmes with skill acquisition centres for women by government agencies and other educational stakeholders. The girl-child should be properly enrolled in schools early enough in order to overcome the primary set back of illiteracy. Education requires the concerted effort of all concerned as opposed to abandoning the responsibility to government alone.