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 transcribe
d 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.
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