INTRODUCTION
It was believed that since the mid the 1980s, the term “empowerment” has become popular in the field of development, especially in reference to women. The grass root programs has virtually replaced terms such as welfare, uplift community participation and poverty alleviation to describe the goal of development and intervention. Women deserve empowerment in politics, business, education, marriage and other commitments men engage in the society.
Women constitute a critical segment of the Nigeria population. They are very much active in agriculture, economic sector, and have, also contributed immensely to the decolonization and general development of this great nation.
Women’s struggle began in 19th century when women like Amina of Zaria, Madam Tinubu of Lagos, Olufuamilayou Ransom Kute of Abeokuta, Margaret Ekpo and Haji Gabon Swabia amongst other fought to give women the bride of place in Nigeria political history after the struggle for independence was over. In area of politics, the above named women contributed to the mobilization and sensitization campaign of other women to be adequately involved in the politics of the country.
At present, the issues that concern women have drawing global attention with the results that anything that affect the lives of women affect virtually everybody in the society, Obasi (2008:91).So, the neglect and relegation of women empowerment has heightened the political consciousness of women in Nigeria. Some of them occupy strategic position in the government where they have continued to prove their mettle. For instance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Prof. Dora Akunyeili, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, amongst other have undoubtedly distinguished themselves in their political official assignments.
The role of women in development has, for a long, been taken place for granted and relegated to the background. For a long time, politics in Nigeria has been played with the unusual patronizing attitude which usually does not go far in the enlightening women. Some of the factors responsible are social and cultural practices which hither to have been misinterpreted to create biases against women. There is need for the women to be properly educated so that their numerical strengths and voting power can be profitably galvanized and oriented towards empowerment of other women who will turn things for the welfare of women in Nigeria.
What is really the meaning of politics?
Various scholars have commonly agreed that politics is defined as the art of possible; a game of wits, all that begins and ends with government”, Asogwa (2011:4) politic is essentially the art of and science of governing people and resources. It is also the study of control, distribution and use of power over human activities in the society, Nwankow (1990:80). The obvious maneover associated with the concept and practices of politics influenced the emergence of the Laswelhiam theory, of politics which states that politic is who gets what and how (Laswelhim 1958:109).
Sources of literature
In carryout this study, the researcher did not restrict his findings to mass communication materials only. Rather the topic of this research revolveds around some areas in social scienes like politics. To achieve thus, the researcher squarely used secondary sources of information dawn from textbook, journals, magazines, newspapers, films etc. These materials have positive impact to the study.
Review of relevant literature
A lot of works has been done on the this topic; it is to the furtherance of those work that the researcher based his study.
Women in pre-colonial era in Nigeria
In most of British Colonies, drawing from Nigeria steans (1998:104), observe that the masculinity of politics was largely as a rest of colonial influences. As prior to the colonization of such countries , there were politics structures that allowed for the sharing of power between women and men. For instance, in Nigeria, women have always had significance roles in their society. In the pre-colonial era in Nigeria, women were warriors, trander etc; they had important roles in the administration of their various communities and were involved in the policy-making. According to Olojede (1990:82) women in pre-colonial NIgeia were not entirely powerless as erroneously perceived today. Women have access to political participation through a complex and sophisticated net work of relationship, rights and control of resources in some societies, women share equal powers with men.