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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Better Life for Women in Nigeria: Problems, Prospects, and Politics of a New National Women's Program
Author:VerEecke, CatherineISNI
Year:1993
Periodical:African Study Monographs
Volume:14
Issue:2
Pages:79-95
Language:English
Geographic terms:Nigeria
Northern Nigeria
Subjects:Islam
Fulani
development
women
Women's Issues
Development and Technology
Politics and Government
gender
organizations
Status of Women
Religion and Witchcraft
Link:http://jambo.africa.kyoto-u.ac.jp/asm/normal/asm_14-2.html
Abstract:This paper is concerned with the appropriateness of the Better Life Programme (BLP) and its potential to cope with the diversity and needs of women in Nigeria under the country's present sociocultural, political and economic conditions. The BLP is an effort coordinated by wives of government officials, aimed at articulating the interests of women to the government and fostering public awareness of women's diverse roles and contributions. The paper concentrates on married Muslim women of Nigeria's northern region. The major issues explored include the fact that the movement is largely a 'political' phenomenon, reflecting relations of power within Nigerian society and between Nigeria and the Western world, so that it may only partially achieve its objectives; the fact that the programme as designed may serve to affirm the 'secondary' status of many women, rather than improving it; and the fact that a national women's programme - by itself - is inappropriate for the intense economic and cultural diversity in Nigeria. The paper concludes that, notwithstanding a number of problems, the BLP has increasingly involved women in programmes for development. Research was carried out primarily among the Fulbe peoples of Gongola State in 1983-1986. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum.
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