Entrepreneurship as a Pathway to Social Justice, Gender Inequality, and Economic Inclusion for Marginalized Widows in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study explored entrepreneurship as a tool for addressing social injustice, gender inequality, and economic exclusion among marginalized widows in Rivers State, Nigeria. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys of 225 widows, selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques with qualitative interviews of 20 of the widows and 5 key research collaborators, which included NGOs and community leaders. Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview guides which aided the researcher to gather information from the 225 respondents across three Local Government Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria (Ikwerre, Obio Akpor and Port Harcourt City) used for this study, validated through expert reviews by communication experts and pilot testing done using Cronbach’s alpha at 0.79. Key findings revealed that 68% of widows face property dispossession post-bereavement, while 72% experienced income growth after entrepreneurship, which enabled them to access microloans and vocational training. Patriarchal norms and weak legal enforcement of gender policies were identified as systemic barriers. The study concluded that structured entrepreneurship programmes, coupled with legal literacy programmes, policy reforms, and community advocacy can empower widows to achieve financial autonomy and social reintegration. Recommendations based on the findings included integrating widow-centric policies into Rivers State’s gender frameworks and partnerships with Local NGO-led entrepreneurship hubs to scale grassroots initiatives.