Abstract

Gender equality has been identified globally as one of the development strategies for reducing poverty. To implement this strategy, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Ogun State plans and implements projects aimed at improving the economic and social standard of women and children considered as the most vulnerable groups in society. In spite of these efforts, women still have limited access to the projects of the ministry and men still dominate key sectors of the economy. This study therefore examined the projects formulated and implemented by the Ministry specifically geared towards gender equality and access to development. A survey research design was adopted. The population of the study embraced directors and coordinators of projects in the Ministry, and beneficiaries. The research instruments were structured questionnaire, interview, and direct observation. The work was anchored on gender and development theories. Findings revealed that the Ministry embarked on several programmes geared towards gender equality and access to development. But some of these programmes are not popularized in the state. Factors such as inadequate funds, mobility, manpower, enabling environment; failure to domesticate some policies in the state; and harmful traditional practices limited the effective implementation of these programmes. Consequently, women in the State were not sufficiently empowered to achieve gender balance and improved socio-economic standards. The study concluded that the programmes of the Ministry have limited impact and need more publicity in order to meet their stated objectives. The study recommended among others that the Ministry must intensify effort to enlighten and empower women educationally, socially, politically, and economically; and create awareness of its programmes to the citizens through publicity and workshops organized especially at the grassroots level.