Femmes Tiv du Nigeria

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Overview

In Nigeria, in the villages of Apir and Fiidi in the state of Benue, the women of the Tiv ethnic group struggle daily to improve their lives. As a result of their work in the fields and the sale of their harvest at market, most of these women have been able to attain economic independence. In 1987, the Nigerian government, prodded by the United Nations and women's organizations in Nigeria, developed a program for supporting women in rural environments called the "Family Support Programme," which encouraged them to organize more effectively and to form co-operatives. Several representatives of the government and the Programme present the broad outlines of this project, and talk about the women's investment and the problems they have encountered. The women describe their role in these co-operative associations and how they view this collective work and its benefits, which enable them to improve their socio-economic situation.