CHAPETR ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of problem
1.3 Objective of the study
1.4 Research Hypotheses
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Scope and limitation of the study
1.7 Definition of terms
1.8 Organization of the study
CHAPETR TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPETR THREE
3.0 Research methodology
3.1 sources of data collection
3.3 Population of the study
3.4 Sampling and sampling distribution
3.5 Validation of research instrument
3.6 Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introductions
4.2 Data analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendation
Appendix
Abstract
They are characterized by those who are actively employed or seeking employment. The focus of this study is to determine the impact of female participation in labour force on the economic growth in Nigeria between the periods of 1980- 2010. The research also seeks to investigate the determinants of female contribution to economic growth in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between female labour force and economic growth in Nigeria (GDP).The data used was sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics of various years as well as the CBN Statistical Bulletin (volume 21) December, 2010. The ordinary least square method (OLS) was chosen as the estimation tool because of its advantage over other estimation techniques.The major finding was that female labour force employment has a positive impact on the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Nigeria economy. Based on the findings, some recommendations of policy and suggestions have been made.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
Gender differentiation and productivity are critical issues that are central to the socio-economic life of any country. Women contribute half or more of the country’s population, but they contribute much less than men towards the value of recorded production both quantitatively in labour force participation and qualitatively in educational achievement and skilled manpower (Olukemi, 2008). The extent to which these phenomena are discussed varies from country to country. While the developed countries have practically graduated from endemic problems of gender differentiation, their less developed counterparts are still battling it. A close overview of world economies show that women have often been looked down upon in terms of their ability to contribute to the economic well- being of their families which invariably has some correlation to a nation’s economic growth. The under-utilization of female labour as well has obvious implications for economic welfare and growth. In particular, the participation of women in labour force appears to depend much more on the social environment than is the case for men. In the light of the above, arguments have risen in favour or against women in their roles towards economic growth and development. Traditional African Gender Theory suggests that women are less important such that they are relegated to the upkeep of domestic chores. It is therefore not surprising that the clamors for more birth were and are still being emphasized till date. The theory holds that women should in no way be found rubbing minds with their husbands in family meetings, and community gatherings. Traditionally, women were regarded as homemakers, who oversee and coordinate the affairs and activities at home. Previously, in Africa, women remained at home while their husbands and sons went out to the farm to work. However, women are never idle at home. They are engaged in manual processing of food crops and other farm produce in addition to their housekeeping duties. The neo-classical are in support of this idea as they failed to acknowledge society induced differences between men and women in the face of economic growth. Thus, they remarked that markets clear automatically given pareto efficiency and that what is economically rational at the individual level is also economically rational for the society as a whole. Despite these extreme views, there exists a clarion call all over the world for increased women participation in the socio- economic development of nations. This is because of the roles that women play in economic growth and development. Danish (2001) notes that women opportunities to contribute to the development of societies need should be improved. Otherwise, economic growth in developing countries will be constraint and the ability to care for the environment in these countries reduced. One of the studies conducted by World Bank in 2003, shows that investments in women yield large social and economic returns, adding that young girls and boys should have the same opportunities to lead full and productive lives. With the advent of Western education, industrialization and paid employment, men as well as women drifted into the modern sector of the economy. And today, there are visible changes in the perception of women, principally because they have greater opportunities for education than before. It is therefore not in doubt that economically empowered women play veritable role in household decision- making, with greater bargaining power to increase spending on education, health and other areas of family needs. Such women especially the economically sound ones, have better opportunities for entrepreneurship and to earn higher wages, lifting themselves and their families out of poverty. In the view of the above, scholars have made enormous enquiry in how women have fairedvis- a-vis contributions to economic growth. This work therefore, is a follow- up research work that establishes the role women play in Nigeria’s economic growth.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Gender biasness in the face of socio- economic strata of the world seems to be no respecter of any economy. As a result, Nigeria has its own share of the incidence. Right from the pre- colonial traditional Nigeria society to its modern state, women have often being discriminated upon in affairs that led to deplete their contribution to economic growth. Such discrimination is often perceived in grounds that they are the weaker sex.
In Nigeria today, women are excluded from certain occupational categories due to formal barriers as well as informal barriers to entry. The formal barriers which continue to hinder the entry of women in such occupational categories include; lack of educational or technical training, labour laws and training customs. The informal barriers include; customs and religious practices, difficulties in combining domestic and labour market activities, management and worker attitudes etc. few Nigerian women are engaged in top management cadre of formal sector establishments simply because majority of them lack the educational qualifications necessary for such positions or due to gender discrimination. For instance, only about 6.2 percent of those who were employed as either General Managers or Managing Directors in 1986 were women (Ojo, 1997), while 32.6 percent of those who participated in the 1995/1996 National Youth Service Corps Programme were females (Ojo, 1997). Onyejekwe, J.C (2001) states that about half the Nigerian population are women and have always played important economic roles. He however asserts that these roles were negatively affected by earlier development schemes, particularly community development programmes, which to a large extent ignored the potential of local knowledge systems for coping with change. Similarly, the historical pattern of development in Nigeria is one in which investment is skewed in favour of industrialization in urban areas resulting in rural areas lagging behind in development. Mijiudadi (1993) cited in Fabiyi et al (2007) estimates that women are responsible for 70% of actual framework and constitutes up to 60% of the farming population in rural areas. In other to boost women’s participation in economic affairs, a number of women progrmmes have been launched in the country including; “the famous better life for rural women of (1987)”, “Gender action Plan of
the World Bank of (2007), “Millennium Development Goals”, “Women for Change Initiative founded by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan”, “Women’s Pride Restored through Unilever empowerment Programme of (2011)”, and “Empowering the Nigerian Women by the Jonathan Presidency” etc.
Despite these efforts, the contribution of women towards economic prosperity is still seen as grossly beyond expected capacity.
The questions now are;
- In what ways does female labour participation contribute to economic growth in Nigeria?
- What are the hinderances to the impact of female labour force participation on economic growth of Nigeria?
- OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are:
- Examine the impact of female labour force on the economic growth of Nigeria.
- Suggest ways of combating the hindrances that still prevent women from actively participating in the labour force.
- Find out the various ways in which women have contributed to Nigeria’s economic growth.
- RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;
H0: Female labour force participation has no significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria.
H1: Female labour force participation has significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria.
H02: there are no various ways in which women have contributed to Nigeria’s economic growth
H2: there are various ways in which women have contributed to Nigeria’s economic growth
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is designed to have a general view of female and labour output in Nigeria and shall make use of data spanning from 1980- 2010 to make empirical assessment. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;
- a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
- b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
- c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.
- DEFINITION OF TERMS
FEMALE LABOUR: Labour Women (Irish: Mná an Lucht Oibre) is the women's section of the Labour Party of Ireland. All women party members are LW members. Those who wish to be actively involved are included in a mailing list which informs them of events, developments, networking opportunities and any other relevant information.
ECONOMIC GROWTH: Economic growth is the increase in the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services produced by an economy over time. It is conventionally measured as the percent rate of increase in real gross domestic product, or real GDP.
1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study
