PLANNING FOR FEMALE FRIENDLY MARKET ENVIRONMENT (A CASE STUDY OF MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS IN LAGOS STATE)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Women and environment are inseparable. In the world today, women play an important role in the market environment. Women can contribute significantly to protect their environment as planning for a female friendly market environment in Nigeria requires continuous efforts from all and sundry. In the developing countries like Nigeria, females participate in economic activities like farming, fishing, selling fruits and produce, and are additionally responsible for domestic tasks like cooking, gathering wood for fuel, hauling water, nurturing and caring for children and tending to elderly members of the household but for them to be able to effectively carry out all these, the market environment has to be female/women friendly. Given the wide range of women's daily interactions in the environment to meet household/work needs, they are most often affected by female unfriendly environment as this can adversely affect day to day sales thus leaving them vulnerable. As farmers, stock breeders, market women, suppliers of fuel and water, they interact most closely within the market environment. These unfriendly market environments give women different concerns and could even affect their health and productivity. Connections between women and the market environment are very visible in developing countries where a large number of women still go the market to sell and buy commodities. Women in Nigeria have been known for their industrious nature as they have been responsible for many salient achievements in our country today. The amount of time and energy women spend in the market has dramatically increased as a result of the harsh economic condition. Creating a female friendly market environment can improve their productivity and make them substantially contribute to their households and national economy thus they should be provided with friendly market environment.

1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

As a result of the nature of Nigeria today, a large part of the population of women end up in the market to engage in buying and selling so as to be able to meet up with the daily necessities of life. Most Nigerian markets have not been up to standard and female friendly. This has negatively affected the productivity of market women as lack of friendly market environment for them in most extreme cases has even negatively affected their health. Conscious efforts should made towards addressing the current female unfriendly market environment with a view to improving the markets and making them up to standard as can be seen in other developed countries of the world.

1.3. AIMD AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine ways of planning for female friendly market environment. Other objectives of the study are;

1. To assess the characteristics of women’s market.
2. To examine the planning standards for women’s market.
3. To examine the proposed design and recommendations for women’s friendly market environment.
4. To examine the relationship between female friendly environment and the productivity of market women in Nigeria
5. To recommend ways of improving women’s friendly market environment in Nigeria.

1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the characteristics of women’s market?
2. What are the planning standards for women’s market?
3. What is the design and recommendations for women’s friendly market environment?
4. What is the relationship between female friendly environment and the productivity of market women in Nigeria?
5. What are the ways of improving women’s friendly market environment in Nigeria?

1.5. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: There is no relationship between female friendly market environment and the productivity of market women in Nigeria

H1: There is a significant relationship between female friendly market environment and the productivity of market women in Nigeria

1.6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study would be of immense importance towards the development of markets in Nigeria. The study would also be of immense benefit to students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing a further study on the subject matter. The study would also benefit market authorities as it would unveil the benefit of creating a female friendly market environment for Nigerian women to improve their productivity.

1.7. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is restricted to the planning for female friendly market environment in Nigeria using marketing organizations in Lagos state as a case study.

1.8. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

1. Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
2. Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Planning: A basic management function involving formulation of one or more detailed plans to achieve optimum balance of needs or demands with the available resources. The planning process (1) identifies the goals or objectives to be achieved, (2) formulates strategies to achieve them, (3) arranges or creates the means required, and (4) implements, directs, and monitors all steps in their proper sequence.

Market: An actual or nominal place where forces of demand and supply operate, and where buyers and sellers interact (directly or through intermediaries) to trade goods, services, or contracts or instruments, for money or barter. Markets include mechanisms or means for (1) determining price of the traded item, (2) communicating the price information, (3) facilitating deals and transactions, and (4) effecting distribution. The market for a particular item is made up of existing and potential customers who need it and have the ability and willingness to pay for it.

Environment: The sum total of all surroundings of a living organism, including natural forces and other living things, which provide conditions for development and growth as well as of danger and damage.