The study examines the role of women in the development of Ode-Ondo, Southwestern Nigeria from 1960 to 1999. It discusses the rolewomen played in both formal and informal socio-economic activities, which involved:agriculture, trade, handicraft, education, healthcare services and associations.The study shows that there was a clear division of labour, gender interplay and complementarities in all socio-economic activities carried out by both men and women in Ode-Ondo.Therefore, there was no isolation of gender in the socio-economic activities of Ode-Ondo;although, women shouldered domestic roles which could be social or economic within and outside the family. The double tasks set for womenin this societyoften result to shortage of time which they could have invested heavily on economic activities. Furthermore,the study examines how gender roles in general and women in particular have been impacted differently by the international and national plans,policies and programmes between 1960 and 1999. Nigerian Government with an effort to improve the socio-economic development of Nigerian societies began with the formulation of Development Plans from 1962 to 1985 focusing on agriculture (cash crops in particular), followed by Structural Adjustment Programme(SAP), Better Life Programme(BLF), and Family Support Programme(FSP) among others. The study concludes that most government policies failed to put into consideration gender roles, particularly as it relates to women‟s social roles which sustained economic activities by providing constant labour.As a result, there was a great dichotomy between genders in socio-economic activities; men dominated the public sector while women dominated all the domestic affairs during our period of study. Therefore, inequality persisted and sustainable development in Ode-Ondo became a mirage.The study used both primary and secondary sources for proper analysis.