CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The attitude of the people towards women education has received on outright progress in recent time unlike in the past when it was believed that women education ends in the kitchen or in their husband home. Many have accepted the saying that if you educate a man, you educate an individual, but educate a woman, you have educate a whole family. This highlights the importance of women education. Education is meant to provide and equip an individual with the desired knowledge; skills and training that can help the beneficiary attain self-reliance in decision making and to perform effectively in every task.
The role of women in the development of any nation state or town cannot be overemphasized. This is an attempt to re-emphasis and reawaken the mind of humanity on the importance of women education undisputable vehicle for sustainable development in the Nation at large, starting from the home.It is commonly seen that women are the first teachers of the children-at home. If a mother is educated, they play important role in shaping and molding their sons and daughters.This project is aimed at investigating the role of education in women empowerment which has implication for economic development in Gombe Local Government Area.
Empowering women can effectively be achieved through education by designing and implementing well-planned and organized educational programme. This is becauseeducational attainment is in no doubt the most fundamental pre-requisite for empoweringwomen in all spheres of life. Without education they will not be able to access well paid formal sector jobs, participate in government and gain political influence even perform better in homes.Despite the fact that education plays a vital role in the human life, socio cultural practices are still strong in the state that Gombe is number among the state with the highest female school dropout and those who get married before the age of 18 years majority of these dropout never return back to school to complete education, learn a trade or acquire vocational skill that will economically empower or make them self-reliant.
An organization known as Advocate for Youth in the North East saw the potentials in the women and believe that they are powerful catalytics for change. The organization saw that the women can through education or acquisition of skills realize their potentials which will enable them to mobilize other women in their locality and address them concerning issues. The issues are on education and economic empowerment, provision of knowledge as to participate fully in the community decision making.Nevertheless, a limited number of the women who married as adolescents returned to school and they achieved academic qualification enable them to take up leadership position in the society and even -ventured into politics, some others acquired training and vocational skills that made them business entrepreneur thereby contributing to the economic development -of their community.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLJEM
In the National Policy on Education it is stated that education is the instrument for national development. It is very important that women acquire education just like the men. Even though the policy has good goals and objectives such as education for all, there are still some women who suffer constrain’ and inhibition and lack of interest in education in their life. Do people see the need for educated women in society? What is the role of education in women life? Those women who obtained Western education are they better than the other women? How are they been improved in their personal life, home or community? What are the implications?
Can women contribute economically to develop their locality if they are empowered through educational qualification? These are what the researcher wants to look into as to draw conclusion.Many women thought that theirs is to marry and bear children thereby depending on their husband in everything about finance how has it been working?This project will also give suggestion in terms of conclusion on how to encourage women to contribute to economic development their quarter through education.
1.3 THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The glory of any life shows only when he has access to knowledge. No people can progress beyond their level of knowledge learning is therefore the master key to good living.
Any nation, state, community that seeks relevance and competitiveness in this ageof globalization must make effort to give its citizens the best education. This isbecause education enhances the quality of .an individual and enables her to build upher personality in such a way that she will be able to play an effective role in thedevelopment of the society to which she belong.
The idea behind any meaningful economic participation and development is education. In the light of this, the federal ministry of Women Affairs (2008) had this to say Educational attainment is no doubt the most fundament pre-requisite for empowering women in the society according to the educator reduces mortality rate and help to control birth rate to which women are in position to be informed. Without qualitative education women may not contribute much to the society.