ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IBIBIO WOMEN TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLONIAL ECONOMY (1900-1960)

Background of the Study: All over the world, governments, organisations and individuals are talking gender sensitivity. Everywhere one turns, people are becoming more aware of the need for the woman folk to get off the back-burner and make a more visible and meaningful impact in decision-making structure and procedures. According to the 1991 population census, women, comprise approximately 51% of Nigerian population. Yet they continue to be ostensibly under-represented as to their views, interests and participation in the nation’s development process. Therefore, the long clamour for the full and active participation of women in all areas of national endeaviour, an particularly in the development arena, is welcome and well-founded. 

However, like every good proposition or ideas, without the solid foundation of well thought out and focused objectives, guidelines and methods, the women question runs the risk of becoming a caricature of the idea and therefore superficial in its reach. 3 while we call for the participation of women in development, what we often see is mere patronage. Women do not need, neither should they be content with token development crumbs condescending needed down as favours by the existing power structure, that is patronage 4.  

The granting of favours, for whatever reason constitutes an exercise in windows dressing.5 This cosmetically makes over the very seriously entrenched socially disadvantages positions that the tast majority of women hold in the real world. 6

            Women feel they are being marginalized, oppressed, trampled upon, suppressed, denied and often times enslaved by their male counterparts. This is a gender conflict that needs to be addressed.

Even the, United Nation, as the umbrella body of the civilized world acknowledges this. In 1946, the body set up a commission on the status of women, with the aim of focusing on the promotion of women’s rights in political, economy, social and education fields. 7

            The point is that women exist amidst external environments, and these environments must be perceived as integral to the women in development concept. Neglecting development issues when speaking of women is just as bad as neglecting women when speaking of development yet some development and some sex/gender approaches persist in doing both. 8

            “Women in development” is an inclusive term used through out in this study to signify a concept whose long-range goal is the well-being of the society, the community of man, women and children”. 9 Its formulation is based on the following suppositions.

• Development in accordance with the international Development strategy for the second development decades means to bring about sustained improvement in the well-being of the individual and to bestow benefits on all.

• Because women comprise more than half of the world’s human resources and are central to the economic as well as to the social well being of societies, development goals cannot be fully reached without their participation.

• Women and development is thus a holistic concept wherein the goal for one cannot be achieved without the success of the other.

• Women therefore must have both legal right and access to existing and the means for the improvement of oneself and society.

Over the years, there has been a great debate as to what extent Ibibio women had contribute to the development of the colonial economy. While it could be argued from two opposing ends, it is important to study this sociological problem with a view to finding if women have actually been contributing to development.

This research sheds more light on the predicament of the Nigerians women in trying to gain recognition in her society. This study therefore sets out inquire into the role of Ibibio women in development during the colonial period (1900-1960).

The contribution of Ibibio women to the development of the colonial economy (1900-1960) provides a good starting point for this investigation of women in development, it can boast of a fairly rich source of development activities embarked upon by women. These records give ample evidence of a female population that has not only been industrious and resourceful, but which also has demonstrated significant and distinguished contribution with the society.

Although this study selects only Ibibio women’s contribution to the development of the colonial economy, it attempts to cover a wide spectrum of human situations to how the female predicament and how women fare in the various sphere in which they operate. Inspite of the problem, the available evidence has revealed certain traits that are common to most Nigerian women. They picture, that has emerged is one of outstanding courage and industry. The study is another window to the great variety of roles which women have played in the development of their nations and people.