Level of asset ownership by women in rural North-East and South-East Nigeria

Women accumulate and hold assets over time to improve their welfare. However, information on the level of asset ownership of women is scanty. Therefore this study examined the level of asset ownership by women in rural North East and South East, Nigeria. Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2013 was used. Information from 5024 from North East (NE) and 1502 women from South East (SE) with adequate information were used for the analyses. Data on socio-economic characteristics {age, household size, marital status, educational level and assets (physical and natural)} were extracted. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple correspondence analysis, composite score and ordered probit regression at alpha(0.05). Mean age and household size in NE and SE were 28.77 +/- 9.57, 29.62 +/- 10.04 years; 7.51 +/- 4.02, 5.59 +/- 2.79 persons respectively. Highest number (66.94%) of women were married in North East and 63.38% were married in South East, while 66.94% had no formal education in North East and 3.79% in South East. Women owned physical assets such as mobile phone (60.41%, 82.69%), radio (50.94%, 73.77%) and natural assets such as land (5.39%) in North East and South East respectively. Women in the intermediate category of asset ownership constitute (76.02%, 63.58%) followed by the low and high categories with (11.48%, 17.11%) and (12.50%, 19.31%) in North East and South East, respectively. In the NE employment type (agriculture and allied, -0.23), gender of household head (female, -0.23), marital status (married, -0.08) reduced asset ownership. Employment type (skilled manual, 0.09; services, 0.16), household size (0.05) and educational level (primary, 0.27; secondary, 0.70; higher, 1.92) improved asset ownership. Also for the SE, employment type (agriculture and allied, -0.39), gender of household head (female, -0.64), reduced asset ownership while employment type (professional/managerial, 0.28), household size (0.03) and educational level (primary, 0.54; secondary, 0.90; higher, 1.16) improved asset ownership. Local and international agencies working with women should embark on enlightenment programs for communities on the need for women to increase the level of assets they own.