Impact of Poverty Reduction on Sustainable Development in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
This study has set out a number of objectives which include:
- To identify the effects of poverty on sustainable Development
- To examine government’s poverty reduction strategies in Nigeria.
- To assess the effectiveness of poverty reduction strategies in Nigeria.
- To identify the constraints of poverty reduction strategies in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
With a population of 148 million people, Nigeria is the populous country in Africa and accounts for 47% of West Africa’s population. Its population is made up of about 200 ethnic groups, 500 indigenous languages, and two major religions – Christianity and Islam. The largest ethnic groups are the Hausa-Fulani in the North, the Igbo in the Southeast, and the Yoruba in the Southwest. Nigeria is also the second largest economy in Sub Sahara Africa and accounts for 41% of the region’s GDP (World Bank Report, 2009). Nigeria no doubt ranks among the most endowed nations on earth. It is spread over nearly a million square kilometers of very rich soil that bears great potentials for all forms of agriculture, as well as massive oil and gas reserves that accords her an enviable position in the comity of nations. Endowed with such enormous human and material resources, Nigeria possesses all it takes (in potential) to be one of the most prosperous nations in Africa, and indeed the world. Very embarrassing social indicators however paint Nigeria in the image of one of the world’s greatest contradictions. Hence, the World Bank (1996) describes Nigeria as a paradox. This position continues to be confirmed by events and official statistics in the country. Particularly worrisome is the fact that the country earned over US $ 300 billion from petroleum during the last three decades of the twentieth century. But rather than record remarkable progress in national social economic development, Nigeria as Obadan (2006), observes retrogressed to become one of the 25 poorest countries in the world, at the threshold of the twenty first century. Two in every three Nigerians (66%) lived below the extreme poverty line of US $ 1 per day. (Nigerian Health Review, 2006).
This indeed, is in sharp contrast to the early 1970s when Nigeria as Obadan (2006) recaps, was “among the richest 50” in the world. In spite of the pursuit of economic programs and the achievement of moderate growth, poverty has increased in the developing countries. It has been generally accepted that although economic growth is a prerequisite for poverty reduction, it is not by itself a sufficient condition, especially where growth is accompanied by inequality in income distribution. Therefore, the structure of poverty reduction strategies, encompassing the adoption of programs and provision of appropriate social safety nets which will ensure that the benefit of economic growth actually trickle down requires that the most vulnerable groups in the society be clearly identified. This chapter briefly analyses the different views on the basic concepts involved in the perception and prevalence of poverty. It is aimed at elucidating among others the meaning, the depth, review of literature and theoretical perspective.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to a critical analysis of impact of poverty reduction on sustainable development in Nigeria.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
Primary source and Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of poverty reduction on sustainable development in Nigeria with reference to Kaduna State. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the impact of poverty reduction on sustainable development in Nigeria.
Summary
This study was on impact of poverty reduction on sustainable development in Nigeria. Four objectives were raised which included: To identify the effects of poverty on sustainable Development, to examine government’s poverty reduction strategies in Nigeria, to assess the effectiveness of poverty reduction strategies in Nigeria and to identify the constraints of poverty reduction strategies in Nigeria. Two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 Residents of Kaduna Local Government Area in Kaduna State. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up supervisors, administrative staff, senior staff and junior staff was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Based on the above findings pertaining to the objectives of the study the following conclusions are drawn. Poverty is a very serious problem in Nigeria in general as more than 70% of the entire population is still poor. Considering the current poverty in Nigeria, One can conclude that the past poverty alleviation programs have not achieved much. This is perhaps due to the problems identified as hindering the effective implementation of the programs. There is no doubt in the fact that successive government in Nigeria have attempted to alleviate poverty at one time or the other through their poverty alleviation related programs, the conclusion is that as laudable as some of these programs, they have not been able to lift the life of majority of Nigerians above the poverty line. It is therefore important to give expression to poverty alleviation objectives within National Development Plans with Strategies well integrated into the National Development plans. It is my fervent belief that the level of poverty in Nigeria can be reduced not eradicated through good governance in all the three tiers of governance
Recommendation
Sequel to the above, the following recommendations will help in reducing poverty to a large extent in Nigeria.:
- The need for skill acquisition centres in Nigeria. This entails not just setting them up, but proper funding and monitoring to achieve the desired goals of helping to alleviate poverty.
- The establishment of cottage industries. This will help to create employment for more who cannot get employed in oil companies, civil service and private companies. This can be achieved through collaborative efforts Multi National Co-operations.
- Setting up of Micro Credit Scheme. There is the need for the establishment of Micro Credit schemes in the form of co-operative societies which must assist particularly the rural dwellers.
- The governments at various levels should be seen to be creating enabling environment for, and providing the means of empowering Nigerians towards alleviating poverty in the region.
- Government should device a blueprint to poverty eradication in Nigeria by monitoring their citizens for higher productivity by paying the workers living wages and pension as at when due.
- It is believed that sustainable poverty alleviation or reduction is achievable in Nigeria if investment in physical infrastructure is improved upon. And government should be made to be more accountable to all the people.
- Poverty is a multi-dimensional issue and needs a multi-dimensional approach towards solving it
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