IMPACT OF CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of civil society organization (CSOs) initiatives on women’s’ empowerment in FCT, Abuja. Despite various government efforts, women in Nigeria continue to face significant socio-economic challenges, including limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The research problem centers on the effectiveness of civil society organizations (CSOs) in bridging these gaps and enhancing women's socio-economic status in the FCT. Specifically, the study examined the impact CSO’s Advocacyampaign, Microfinance Support, and Vocational Training initiatives. A survey design was adopted where questionnaires were distributed. A sample size of 160 respondents was drawn from a population of 190 populations. Multiple regression analysis was employed to test the hypotheses formulated. The study found that all the CSOs initiatives in the aspect of Vocational Training, Microfinance Support, and Educational initiative has positive and significant impact on women’s’ empowerment. The study therefore, recommended that CSOs should facilitate networking opportunities and connections with employers and industry partners to enhance job prospects and business opportunities for trained women, they should also offer financial literacy and business management training as part of microfinance support programs to equip women with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage their finances and businesses and lastly CSOs should track indicators such as Vocational enrollment rates, retention rates, skills performance, and women's perceptions of empowerment to measure the effectiveness of the vocational training  programs over time.