Gender Inequality and Women’s Access to Economic Empowerment in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

The study explores gender inequality in access to economic development, using women in rural communities of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria as a case study. The research employed the use of descriptive survey research design. The sample for the study consisted of 1200 women in rural communities of Akwa Ibom state using a simple random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection is a questionnaire titled “Gender Inequality and Women’s Access to Economic Empowerment” (G.I.WA.E.E.). The test-retest reliability of the instrument was found to be 0.71. Data were analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics. The result showed that women in rural communities were not entirely affected by gender inequality. They have access to education and receive economic empowerment from time to time from wealthy sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom state’s government and non-governmental organisations. Cases of gender inequality observed were culturally and traditionally instituted and women cannot be traditional rulers in communities, and cannot sit in council of chiefs in Akwa Ibom state. Furthermore, it revealed that some women from rural communities occupy very high and sensitive positions in Akwa Ibom state and Nigeria. The study concluded that gender inequality is not prevalent in rural communities in Akwa Ibom State and recommended that more economic empowerment of women in rural communities in the state should be promoted to avoid gender inequality.