SUMMARY
The role of women in precolonial African societies have been relegated to the background in history. Development and progress of societies have been associated with men only as if women were non-existence or passive. It was against this background that research studied precolonial Utekon in Socio-economic. The result explicitly revealed that precolonial Utekon women were involved in the development of the community. They played both economic, political and social roles in ensuring the sustainability of community. As revealed in this research, women did not occupy equal positions with men but their efforts were more or less complementary, and they however, utilized effectively the positions reserved for them.
Socially, women were relevant in the Educational sector, Health sector, Religious sector, Cultural activities (Festivals and Marriage), and Conflict resolution/ diplomacy. Women were notably active as teachers to their children. They imbued in them the necessary etiquettes needed to survive in the society. For instance, they prepare their female children to become good wives and mothers when they get married. These they do by teaching them how to prepare good dishes, care for children, respect their husbands as lord of the family. The women also provided medical care to the community. Basically, every woman in Utekon is a nurse who knows how to provide first aid and simple treatment to their family members. They know some of the local herbs to use against mild sickness like Dysentery, Malaria, Typhoid, etc. However, there were also professional healthcare practitioners like priestesses, and even midwives who attend to the health needs of the community.
