Title: Boki Women and Nigerian Economy
Authors: Besong, Eric Ndoma
Volume: 1
Issue: 10
Pages: 71-88
Publication Date: 2017/12/28//
Abstract:
It is quite regrettable that the normal gross tendencies to ignore or undermine the enormous role of women in the economies of nations apply to the Boki women of Central Cross River State, Nigeria. Yet, studies have proven that African women are generally the engine house of their local economies through several economic activities. Boki women are likewise. Amidst the various challenges faced by these women across the ages, their place in Boki, Cross River and Nigerian economies cannot be underestimated or overemphasized. Therefore, this study rises to bridge this underlying knowledge gap, bringing their enormous contributions to foresight. It has established that Boki women enormously contribute to the economy through cassava processing, palm oil and palm kernel production/marketing, food crop production, firewood production/marketing, vegetable, trade, etc. Proceeds from their economic ventures contribute to national development in several ways including self-assertion, self-reliance, job creation, education sponsorship. However, they are challenged by several factors, political, cultural, logistics, gender issues, low education level, poverty, etc. This paper maintains that Boki women have played a very significant role in Nigeria as a whole, and thus deserve a scholarly appraisal of this kind. It recommends gender balance and bias-less works on and appreciation of these women and others in general. Both primary and secondary sources of data collection were involved in the data collection, which followed the survey descriptive method and the qualitative analysis approach.