In Pursue of Womens Economic Empowerment Via Micro-credit Scheme

Today virtually every country has awoken to the call for gender equality both at workplace and the homes. Womens issues have altered from a mere call for voting rights to more fundamental socio-economic issues. These changes also led to an increase search for womens development and economic empowerment in particular. Micro-credit schemes and institutions which provide soft loans to women have become a critical tool in development programmes aiming to empower them. This study therefore investigates womens economic empowerment in relation to micro-credit schemes in southern Nigeria. The study also evaluates the benefits and limitations of micro-credit as a resourceful means of enhancing womens economic activities in the labour market and eliminating poverty among market and rural women.