THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS TO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT A Case Study of National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
In the past, women were sidelined in the world dominated by men. But in the recent time women have come into positive focus to fight the domineering tendency of men folk.
In view of this, women all over the world form themselves into strong organisations to uplift the living standard of their women folk and to participate in national development. This is done by assisting women in both the urban and rural areas to plan their roles as homemakers and nation builders.
In view of this the National Council of Women Society NCWS was established as an umbrella organisation for the empowerment of all Nigerian women as homemakers and nation builders both in the rural and urban area; whether literate or illiterate. The NCWS in recent time has been accused of being urbane and elite oriented in all its activities as such diverting from its major role as a body umbrella for all Nigerian women.
This study is aimed at examining this facts whether it is true or not. In doing this the survey method was utilised, questionnaire distributed to 120 respondents selected through random sampling. Interview was granted also to some officials of NCWS. Also publications of the council and other relevant document of the organisation were used as secondary data.
This study reveals that the activities of the council is urban based and elite oriented, the government patronage also do not allowed the council to take appropriate measures against their activities. These were nothing but jamburies which is of little help to any
measures that is detrimental  to the well being of the women benefit to the less privileged
 
Nigerian women they claim to serve.
 
The researcher, however recommends that, the NCWS in Nigeria should move be to grass root oriented, they should ensure that they work or create avenue an independent sources of fund so that they would not rely on government patronage for their source of money. This would make them independent of government control and manipulation.