OHAZURUME - Unizik Journal of Culture and Civilization

Women have contributed immensely to economic development of Igboland. Men have since dominated various aspects of the economy with the role of women not fully recognized. Fundamentally, women have remained invaluable in the maintenance and sustenance of many families in different epochs. Presumably as it were, women are often seen in most Igbo societies and not heard. This cliché that “women’s roles end in the kitchen” appears inconsequential in the twenty first century. Events in the recent past and global developments have conferred greater recognition on women and their contributions in developing the economy of their society. Ihitte Uboma women of Igboland have contributed to the economy of their communities and development of their society over time. In the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, trade, politics and many other sectors, women have played significant roles in infrastructural development yet the role of women in the economy of Ihitte Uboma has not received adequate attention from scholars and researchers. This expose examines the efforts and contributions of women in the economy of Ihitte Uboma and the growth of the society. The work argues that the contributions of these women have remained understudied and as such creates a historical gap in knowledge. An attempt is made here towards the reconstruction of this aspect of the history of Ihitte Uboma. The work adopts the qualitative and historical descriptive-narrative methods for proper analysis. Materials from both primary and secondary sources are used. The various concepts and variables relevant to this work are clarified to avoid ambiguities. Ester Boserup’s Women in Development theory is used. The work concludes that women in Ihitte Uboma have made invaluable contributions to the economy and growth of the society over time. They have contributed immensely and complimented the efforts of men in building and developing their society as demonstrated in this work.

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