Some of the results revealed that members of all religions practiced in the area benefitted from the programme. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, mean, percentages and standard deviation) and Pearson correlation was used to make inferences. Structured interview schedule was performed for each data collection from programme beneficiaries while seven key informants were interviewed among the workers of the Diocese. Twenty-five percent of the participants were proportionately sampled from each community selected, making 104 respondents. The impact of the programme on the beneficiaries was assessed on four randomly selected communities from each of the three administrative zones of Osogbo, Ila and Ilesa. Hence, this article analysed the women empowerment programme of Justice, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) of Osogbo Catholic Diocese in Osun State with a view to enhancing its effectiveness. The vital role played by women in agriculture and non-farm activities for achieving food security and economic growth led to the recognition of women as a vital instrument by both government and non-governmental organizations in the ‘battle’ against rural poverty and other challenges of development process. The battle against rural poverty and other challenges of development: Empirical analysis of women empowerment programme of Justice, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) in Osun State, Nigeria.
FABORODE, Helen and OLUGBENGA ALAO, Titus.