Comparative Study of Female-Headed Households in the City of Ibadan

Abstract

This study makes a comparative study of socio-economic characteristics of female-headed households within the metropolitan city of Ibadan. Socio-economic variables on which information was collected, and that were assessed adequate enough for the task of comparing the various female-headed households in the residential districts, are: “place of origin,” “highest level of education,” “employment,” “occupation,” “marital status,” “type of building,” “average family size,” and “occupancy rate.” The analysis is based on statistical estimation and conclusions are based on the results obtained from these estimations. Our findings indicate that socio-economic level of female-headed households in the city of Ibadan generally varies with the residential districts in which they reside, increasing in quality from the city centre in Mapo through Mokola to Bodija. Hence broad generalizations for the whole city could be erroneous. Significance of the findings revolves round emphasizing the need to ensure that planning welfare and other packages for female-headed households are preceded by conducting thorough investigations on the spatial pattern of their characteristics to ensure that the right packages are provided for the right beneficiaries in the right locations.