ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to find out socio-economic impact of covid-19 pandemic on women empowerment programme in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The specific purpose of this study were: socio-economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic on women empowerment programmes based on age, socio-economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic and women empowerment programmes based on educational qualifications, socio-economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic on women empowerment programmes based on location. Four research questions were raised in this study.
The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised of all registered women in various empowerment programme in Oredo Local Government area in Edo state. They are: Federal government conditional cash transfer for the poor of the poor 645, market money 366, traders money 489, Lift above poverty organization 3555, Senator Urhoghide women empowerment programme 493, Ogbeide-Ihama women empowerment programme 269 and the total is 5817.The sample size of this study is 117. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select the respondents.The instrument that was used for data collection is a self-structured questionnaire.The face and content validity of the instrument was validated by three experts, these included; the researcher’s supervisor, one expert from the Department of Adult and Non-Formal Education and one from the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology all from University of Benin. Their criticisms, corrections, suggestions, modifications and recommendations served as the final draft of the instrument. The split-half method of reliability was used. The instrument were administered to 20 women in empowerment programme in Egor LGA, who will not part of the study. This involves administering the instrument to the women once. Data collected was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient statistics and a coefficient values of 6.75 was obtained. The data collected were analyzed using frequency and percentages. It was therefore concluded that, covid-19 pandemic affected the socio-economic empowerment of women in Oredo LGA, based on age, location and educational qualifications.
It was recommended that Pandemic or no pandemic, deliberate efforts should be made by government at all levels in Nigeria in the empowerment of women, educationally, socially and economically.
