Sustainable Development: Challenges and Strategies to Reduce Female-Headed Households’ Plights in Rivers-West Senatorial District of Rivers State, Nigeria

The study investigated challenges faced by female-headed households in respect of sustainable development tenets, and strategies to reduce the plight of the female householders in Rivers-West Senatorial District of Rivers State. Previously, a position paper for female-headed households in the Niger Delta Region in respect of sustainable development was discussed. However, the paper needed to be ascertained empirically of the issues raised, hence the need for this study. The population of the study was drawn from eight Local Government Areas of Rivers-West Senatorial District. Four hundred (400) female householders who are breadwinners were selected using convenient sampling technique, but 379 actually participated. The instrument used for data collection was researchers’ prepared questionnaire titled: Sustainable Development of Female-Headed Households in Rivers-West Senatorial District of Rivers State Questionnaire (SDFHQ). The instrument had in Section A two items and in Section B twenty-three items. The data collected were statistically analyzed using mean for the two research questions and ANOVA for the hypotheses at P < 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that female-headed households are having challenges (mean scores range of X̅ 2.68 to X̅ 2.80), and strategies to reduce the plights of the people (mean scores range of X̅ 2.68 to X̅ 2.76). There is lack of female inclusiveness, hence the challenges of female-headed households. Based on the findings it was recommended that pollution should be reduced, inclusive empowerment programs in the district should proportionally include women, security should be beefed-off among others.