COVID-19, Governments’ Response and the Feminisation of Poverty: Ekiti State, Nigeria in Perspective
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Date
2020
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Journal of Education Research and Rural Community Development
Abstract
This article examined the effects
of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), and
governments’ response action on female
poverty in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Discourse on
female poverty abounds, but there is the need
to revisit the topic, particularly in the light of
a global pandemic. In achieving its objective, the qualitative research approach was adopted. The
method combined the use of primary data elicited through the conduct of Key informants Interview
(KII), and the review of secondary materials to generate data. Ekiti State, as the focus of this study,
was purposively selected, while Ekiti Central Senatorial District was conveniently selected from
the three Senatorial Districts being the seat of commerce of the State. Three towns from three Local
Government Areas under Ekiti Central: Adebayo, (Ado Ekiti); Aramoko (Ekiti West); and Ipoti
(Ijero) were randomly selected. A total of seven women, including traders/artisans who are
breadwinners of their respective families, were interviewed. Responses were analysed thematically
and with the use of the descriptive method. It was found-out that governments’ lockdown measure
had a negative effect on commercial activities, as those activities were restricted; an action which
had a multiplier effect on female/household poverty. Despite the punitive measures attached to the
disobedience of the lockdown order, many women still engaged in ‘illicit’ commercial activities, as
a desperate move to feed their respective families. Besides, the palliative provided by the government
to cushion the effect of the lockdown was limited to grossly inadequate food items. The paper
recommends that government should put in place, as a matter of urgency, a social security scheme
such as an emergency fund that would adequately cater for women in the informal sector, and the
poorest of them.
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Keywords
COVID-19, Governments’ response, Feminisation of poverty