Participation of Women Local Leaders in Women-Based Rural Development Projects in Osun State, Nigeria

An investigation was conducted into the participation of Women Local Leaders in women-based rural development projects in Osun-State Nigeria. The study was conducted in all the six administrative zones of the state. Six rural Local Government Areas (LGAS) one from each zone where women-based rural development projects were concentrated and 18 women groups (three from each LGAS) were purposively selected for the sampling. Structured interview schedule was administered to 108 women local leaders sampled from the women groups. Descriptive statistical techniques like frequency and percentage distribution means and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the variables investigated in the study. Results showed that women local leaders participated in 12 women-based rural development projects out of which nine are production projects while three are processing projects. The women-leaders were also involved in all the activities/operations at all stages of programme development such as problem identification decision-making plan of action implementation and evaluation. There was positive and significant relationship" between participation of women local leaders and levels of education (r = 0.228) and marital status (r = 0.210). Other variables with negative but significant relationship are external orientation (r = -0.353) and occupation (r = -0.297). (authors)