Home Economics Education and Financial Literacy Among Women Traders in Onitsha Main Market

This study examines the relationship between Home Economics Education and financial literacy among women traders in Onitsha Main Market, Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Financial literacy, encompassing budgeting, savings, credit management, and investment knowledge, is a critical determinant of business performance and household economic resilience among informal sector traders. Using a cross-sectional analytical design, the study targets 320 female traders in Onitsha Main Market identified through stratified sampling across product categories. Data were collected using the Financial Literacy Assessment Scale and a structured questionnaire on Home Economics educational background. Objectives include assessing traders' financial literacy levels, determining the contribution of Home Economics Education to financial knowledge, and examining the relationship between financial literacy and business performance indicators. Analytical methods include multiple regression, t-tests, and Pearson correlation. The Financial Socialisation Theory provides the conceptual anchor. Recent literature confirms that women with secondary-level Home Economics training demonstrate significantly higher scores on budgeting and savings knowledge tests compared to their counterparts who did not study the subject. Findings are expected to reveal significant independent contributions of Home Economics Education to financial literacy, even after controlling for overall educational attainment. Recommendations address the Anambra State Ministry of Commerce, microfinance institutions, and Home Economics educators to design targeted financial literacy workshops for female market traders. Keywords: Home Economics Education, financial literacy, women traders, Onitsha, Anambra State.