Research Design. .
The study followed a single-round survey
design, which Fisher (1991) and Cleland (1990) found to be useful in
descriptive and exploratory studies. This study
aimed at gaining understanding regarding the employment of women in the
quarry mines of Ebonyi State and how they are affected and as a result it
was appropriate to apply exploratory
survey design method . This enabled us to answer the questions raised as clear
as possible at the same time dealing
with the logical problems raised.
Study Area
The study area, Ebonyi state was created on
October 1, 1996, with Abakaliki as its
capital. Ebonyi state was carved out from Abia and Enugu states. The state (
Ebonyi) derives its name from Aboine
river, and is located in the south eastern region of Nigeria. The state is
bounded to the North by Benue state, to the south by Abia state, to the west by
Enugu state, to the east by Cross River state. Ebonyi state has a land mass of about 5,935
square kilometers, it lies approximately within 7º 30 and 8º 30 E longitude and
5º 40 and 6º 45N latitude. The state is popularly known and called the , ‘ salt
of the nation’, probably because of the
large deposits of salt water in the state ( Ebonyi state solid mineral
development, 2003). Ebonyi
state has a total number of thirteen local government areas, and is
divided also into three senatorial zones of Ebonyi north, Ebonyi central and
Ebonyi south. Ebonyi north is made up of five local governments of; Abakaliki,
Ebonyi, Ishielu, Ohaukwu and Izzi .Ebonyi central comprises of three local
government areas of Ezza south , Ezza north and Ikwo The third senatorial zone
which is Ebonyi south has five local
government areas of ; Afikpo south, Afikpo north , Ivo, Ohaozara and
Onicha.
Ebonyi state is primarily an agricultural
region and at that a leading producer of rice, yams, potatoes, maize, beans and
cassava. Ebonyi also has several solid mineral resources, but with this little
large-scale commercial mining is conducted ( Ebonyi state solid mineral
development , 2007). The large deposits
of the solid minerals and poverty in the state have been a leading force to the
participation of the rural dwellers in mining activities ( Ebonyi state solid mineral development,
2007 & 2010 ).
Scope of the Study.
The study was located at the local government areas where stone
deposits are found in Ebonyi state and in active operation. As already
identified, there are thirteen (13) local government areas in Ebonyi state ,
under three senatorial zones of Ebonyi north, Ebonyi central, and Ebonyi south.
The Ebonyi state solid mineral development (2007 & 2010), identified that
there are stone deposits in various degrees all through the whole local
government areas, but there are areas where they are concentrated. Out of the
thirteen local government areas , there are huge and concentrated deposits
of granite and marble which was found
in; Abakaliki (Aguogboliga), Izzi ( Ezzaegu, Ogbaga and Enyigba ), Ezza north (
Okposi and Umuoghara), Ivo (Ishiagu), Ohaukwu ( Ukwuagba and Amofia), and
Afikpo north (Amasiri, Akpoha and Amachara communities).
From all indication, the areas where the
active mining are done covers six (6) local government areas covering (2) local
government areas each from the three senatorial zones; and these areas were
covered by the research activity.
Study Population.
Although
information sort were primarily on women
in Ebonyi state who work in small-scale quarry mines, but responses were
equally gotten from the male miners making it possible to obtain a gendered
perspective of the phenomenon under investigation. The quarry mining sites in
these areas are done based on leases, which could cover a big land mass, and the leases are mapped
out in what they call pits for
individual mine operators. The mining sites are considered the property
of the federal government and not
individuals (federal ministry of mines
and power, 1970). Although in theory mining in the state is considered illegal
for individuals , but from observation small-scale mining still go on without
hindrance or interruption from constituted authorities.
From the local union of the mine owners
association of the three senatorial
zones ( 2010 ), the following statistics
were estimated for the population of mine workers: in Ebonyi north; Ohaukwu
had 15 pits with 98 males and 200 female quarry miners, Izzi 28 pits of
412 males and 1,012 females, which totaled 43 pits, 1,722 miners of 510 males
and 1,212 female miners. Ebonyi central
had Ezza north 29 pits, of 340 males and 615 females, Ezza south 11 pits of 100
males and 213 females,which brought the number to 40 pits of 440 males and 828
females, totaling 1,268 miners. Ebonyi
south had Ivo ,16 pits of 210 males, 562
females, Afikpo north 10 pits of 120 males, 300 females, which got the number
to 26 pits with the total quarry miners
to 1,192 of 330 males and 862 females.
The estimated outlay of figure for male and
female quarry miners for the three
senatorial zones was 4,182 out of which males had 1,280 while females
occupied a total number of 2,902which
brought the overall total to 4,182.
From pre- visits made to the quarry sites men were found to be mostly
engaged in the breaking of stones , while
majority of the women were found
inside the pit. Due to the fact that the
greater job being done is retrieving of stone lumps from the pit and
loading on heavy trucks, and men are
largely engaged in stone breaking, women seem to be in the majority. From observations also, it was apparent that
quarry mining is essentially dry season activities, during the wet season,
water flood make most of the places inaccessible without dewatering using
pumps.
Since there had not been studies of this kind
in Ebonyi state to use, and no registered figure from the state or federal
government , the estimated quarry workers , both males and females had been
obtained from the state local mine quarry owners association, which they
believe is not very stable since the workers are contract labourers. So from
the outlay of figures the estimated number of workers; males and females from
the three senatorial zones was 4,182,
this number they believe could go up or down since they work on daily basis and
not on permanent arrangement.
Sample Size and Sampling Procedure.
As already stated, the estimated population of
both men and women quarry workers from the six local government areas of the
three senatorial zones in Ebonyi state is 4, 182, and out of this number, the population of males were
1,280 and female 2,902. Although the primary focus of the study was on women
quarry workers, but responses and opinions were equally obtained from both
males and females from the mine sites of the six local government areas slated for sampling . The study made use of 30 percent of the entire
population of quarry miners including males and females, as this was ideal for
a better representation. Since the total estimated figure was 4,182, 30
percent came to 1,255. The 30 percent were shared to the figures
estimated from the three senatorial zones. So to this, Ebonyi north with a
total of 1,722 men and women , had 517 that were sampled; males 153 and women 364, while Ebonyi central
with 1,268 quarry workers got a 30
percent total of 380 with males 132 and females 248. And Ebonyi south with
total figure of 1,192, had 358 as 30
percent total, with males 99 and females
259. The 30 percent was 153 males and
364 females for Ebonyi north, 132 males and 248 females for Ebonyi central and
99 males and 259 females for Ebonyi south. The total figure came to 1,255 for the three senatorial zones.
The study also adopted in-depth
interviews , which qualitatively explored and got a first hand information from the quarry workers about the experiences of
women who work at the quarry mines of Ebonyi state. To this effect, workers
from the mining leases were interviewed selecting one man, one woman from each
of the local government quarry sites from the three senatorial zones. The
selection of these workers for in-depth interview were based on who was the leader of a
particular work group at a lease in a local government mining site. So to cover the six local government areas
based on this, twenty-four quarry workers of 12 women and 12 men were selected
for in-depth interviews. The other set of people were interviewed were the managerial staff of
the quarry mines, of which one each was selected from one local government
each, bringing the entire number of managerial staff to six, which added on the
information on the work and experiences of these women quarry miners.
Due to the divisions created as the quarry
mine sites are spread through six local government areas, and the leases are
further shared to individual pits, the cluster sampling technique was adopted.
After determining the adequate number of clusters, a random number of miners in
each cluster were selected. Since the study areas in Ebonyi state had naturally
shared itself into three senatorial zones; leases and individual pits, the numbers for sampling
were selected from each of the zones
from the state.
Methods of Data Collection.
In order to facilitate the quick and flexible
collection of data, there was an
engagement of research assistants. Six research assistants were selected and
trained and they facilitated in covering the various pits in the strategic
leases of quarry mine sites. The criteria for selection and training were based
on their knowledge of research activity.
On in-depth interview, interviews were
conducted face-to-face and the local language applied where necessary, as a medium of communication to reduce
ambiguities, and were finally translated
in written English language . Outside taking notes with the help of research
assistants, tape recorders were used which
made sure that exact responses were collected and transcribed. The
interviews were semi-structured which guided and steer the discussions towards
the particular interests of the researcher.
Instruments for Data
Collection.
The major instrument used for data collection
for this study was the questionnaire, which had fixed choice as well as
open-ended questions allowing for
further probing. The information gotten
from the respondents included personal
characteristics of the respondents (quarry miners), reasons behind the
participation of women in the quarry mines, type of work they perform , length
of time women work in the mine, wages they receive, safety conditions at the
mine, whether there are exploitation of the women miners sexually among other
related issues.
Also in-depth interviews were conducted on the
six managerial staff selected from the
three senatorial zones which involved
one (1) each from the six local government areas. Also included in this study were 24 quarry mine workers of twelve
(12) men and twelve (12) women due to the exploratory nature of
this work and this helped in the reduction of over generalization of issues as
no research activity of this kind had before been undertaken in Ebonyi state.
Instruments for Data
Analysis.
As already stated , the questionnaire and
in-depth interviews formed the
instruments for data collection. The questionnaire responses were computer
processed and analyzed with the application of the statistical package for
the social sciences (SPSS). To this,
frequency distribution were applied
while the chi-square (X²) statistics were equally used and tested
association among variables on differences in proportions.
This was useful in explaining the relationship between the dependent and
independent variables. Percentages were
used and graphic illustrations engaged in presenting some of the issues raised in
the study for clearer understanding.
On
in-depth interview, which represents the qualitative data, analysis were based
on what was recorded from the respondents, this helped in gaining first hand
information as reflected in the work. Manual analysis of the qualitative data
was applied in transcribing the information gotten, which some were in local
language and was transcribed in English. Also codes were developed according to
ideas that emerged from the data. The areas of agreement and divergences were
identified and specifically arranged for clearer comprehension.