ABSTRACT
This study focused on Impact of poverty on the lifestyle of Nigerians using Nsukka and Enugu north local government areas of Enugu state as a study. The specific objectives of the study are; to determine the extent to which poverty affect the lifestyle of Nigerians, to ascertain the various causes of poverty in Nsukka and Enugu North L.G.A of Enugu State and to examine the effects of poverty management strategies on the citizens of Nsukka and Enugu North LGAS. The study adopted Survey Design. Data were collected using primary and secondary sources. A sample size of 798 was used and this was derived from the population of towns in the LGAs using Taro Yamane formula. The study found out that poverty level in the LGAs contradicts with the country’s wealth. This is because of income inequality in the area, non-provisions of social amenities. Poor income earning and unemployment was also traced to be the causes of poverty in the area as findings showed low standard of education, unemployment rate is very high and several poverty reduction programmes adopted to reduce poverty yielded no significance result as the respondent indicates high corruption, poor management and lack of commitment to the work among the poverty alleviation scheme. The study discovered that the strategies that can be used to manage poverty in the LGAS lies in the national political commitment; good governance and a desire by the leadership to serve Nigeria people. Finally, it was recommended that to make the poor benefit from country’s wealth , there is need to refocus public policy on a number of key priorities, provision of social amenities, creation of employment, investment in education and restricting and redesigning of poverty alleviation to centre on basic needs.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Certification
iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgments v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1.
Background
of the Study 1
1.2.
Statement
of the Problem 4
1.3 Objectives of the Study 6
1.4 Research
Questions 7
1.5 Research
of Hypotheses 7
1.6 Significance
of the Study 7
1.7 Scope
of the Study 8
1.8 Limitations
of the Study 9
1.9 Definition
of Operational Terms 10
1.10 Profile
of Nsukka Local Government Area 12
1.11 Profile
of Enugu North Local Government Area 14
CHAPTER
2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Conceptual
Framework 17
2.1.1 Meaning
of poverty. 17
2.1.2 Types
of poverty 17
2.1.3 Causes
of poverty. 18
2.1.4 Link
between poverty and good governance 40
2.1.5 Government
reaction to poverty 41
2.1.6 Overview
of government strategies and policies for poverty reduction 42
2.1.7 The
poverty reduction strategies and policies 43
2.1.8 The
strategies and method of managing poverty 52
2.1.9
Functions of poverty. 60
2.2. Theoretical
Framework 61
2.2.1
The Power
theory 62
2.2.2
The
theory of individual attribute 62
2.2.3
Poverty
caused by individual deficiencies theory 63
2.3
Empirical Review. 66
2.4
Summary of Reviewed Related Literature 67
2.5
Gap in Literature 68
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research
Design 69
3.2 Sources
of Data 69
2.2.1 Primary
data 69
2.2.2 Secondary
Data 69
3.3 Population
for the Study 69
3.4 Sampling
Size Determination 71
3.4.1 Sample
seize determination for Nsukka local government 71
3.4.2 Sample
seize determination for Enugu north local government 72
3.5
Sampling
Technique 72
3.6
Description
of Research Instrument 75
3.7
Validity
of Research instrument 76
3.8
Reliability
of Research Instrument 76
3.9 Method
of Data Analyses 76
3.10 Model
Specification 77
CHAPTER
4: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.1 Distribution
and Return of Questionnaire. 79
4.2 Background
Information of the Respondents 79
4.3 Test
of Hypotheses 86
4.4 Discussion
of Results 91
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings 93
5.2 Conclusion. 94
5.3 Recommendations. 94
References
95
Appendices 98
LIST OF TABLES
Pages
3.1.
Population of Nsukka local government. 70
3.2: Population
of Enugu North local government area 71
4.0 Distribution
of Questionnaire 79
4.1 Sex
of Respondents 79
4.2 Marital
Status of Respondents 79
4.3 Age
distribution of respondent 80
4.4 Educational
status of respondents 80
4.5 Work
occupation of Respondents 81
4.6 Level of
unemployment in respondents’ area 82
4.7 What are
the various poverty alleviation programmes you
Know in your local government 82
4.8 Are you aware of this poverty alleviation
programmes in your area 83
4.9 Are you involved in those government
implementation of poverty
Alleviation programmes in your local
government 84
4.10 Do you
believe that the entire poverty alleviation programme has
impacted positively to the lives of people in
your local government 85
4.11
Has poverty been tackled since the
introduction of poverty alleviation
strategies in your
local government 86
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1.
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The high level of
poverty in Nigeria has attained an endemic nature, is becoming worrisome and
currently a global discussion. Poverty is a global phenomenon which affects
continents, nations and peoples differently. It afflicts people in various
depths and levels, at different times and phases of existence. There is no
nation that is absolutely free from poverty. The main difference is the
intensity and prevalence of this malaise. Some States in Nigeria today records the
highest level of social insecurity, violence, unrest and generally unacceptable
low standard of living. The Central Bank of Nigeria (2017) views poverty as “a
state where an individual is not able to cater adequately for his or her basic
needs of food, clothing and shelter; is unable to meet social and economic
obligations, lacks gainful employment, skills, assets and self-esteem; and has
limited access to social and economic infrastructure such as education, health,
portable water, and sanitation; and consequently, has limited chance of
advancing his or her welfare to the limit of his or her capabilities”.
The World Bank (2016)
utilized inductive approach to uncover various dimensions of poverty such as
well-being, psychological, basic infrastructure, illness and assets. One of
such definitions is “the lack of what is necessary for material
well-being-especially food, but also housing, land, and other assets. In other
words, poverty is the lack of multiple resources that leads to hunger and
physical deprivation.” Another of such definitions is “lack of voice, power,
and independence that subjects them to exploitation. Poverty leaves many Nigerians vulnerable to rudeness, humiliation, and
inhumane treatment by both private and public agents of the State from whom
they seek help”.
Poverty has made
Nigeria to attain an unenviable status as one of the 25 poorest countries in
the world, such that no government (no matter the level), organization,
community, clan or family can survive effectively without introducing one kind
of poverty reduction strategy or the other Nigeria, of the number of the
poverty stricken people, about 73% is concentrated in the rural areas where
illiteracy prevalence is high, potable water and health facilities are rarely
available, road and electricity infrastructures are either unavailable or
ill-managed. This is in spite of the fact that Nigeria is richly endowed with
all kinds of water, agricultural and mineral resources. Nigeria’s proportion of
the poor has doubled over the last two decades, during which time the country
received over $300 billion in oil and gas revenue. Paradoxically, Nigeria’s
level of revenue and endowment are in opposite direction with her poverty
level. While revenue profile of Nigeria rose from N4 billion in 1975 to N26
billion in 1980, and GNP per capita rose from $360 to more than $1000 in the
same period, the percentage of the population that was poor grew from 15% in
1960 to about its present 70%. Furthermore, according to World Bank and UNDP
2001 statistics, Nigeria which impressively ranked 6th and 7th in Petroleum
Export and Petroleum Production respectively, is still among the poorest
countries in the world.
However, the above
scenario has not come into being as a result of nonchalant attitude and
non-recognition of the problem at hand. It has also not 19 come by as a result
of lack of response to the yearning of the poor people to be emancipated from
their rather deplorable and frustrating state of near despair. No Nigerian
Government, be it military or civilian, has come without introducing and
leaving behind one form of poverty alleviation or reduction programme meant to
reduce the level of poverty, give hope and succour to the poor and, or move
towards some sort of wealth creation. Strategies, policies and plans have been
articulated; programmes and projects have been formulated and executed over the
years. For instance, since independence
in 1960, poverty eradication efforts in Nigeria centred on education, while
Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), the Green Revolution, War Against Indiscipline
(WAI), Peoples Bank of Nigeria (PBN), Community Banks, Directorate of Food
Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFFRI), Nigerian Agricultural Land Development
Authority (NALDA), Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP), Better Life
for Rural Women, Family Support Programme (FSP) and National Poverty
Eradication Programme (NAPEP) and a lot more.
The main goals of
these programmes are wealth creation, poverty reduction, employment generation
and value orientation in its efforts to ensure the attainment of these goals. The
researcher focused on the following poverty alleviation programme- National
Poverty Eradication Programmes (NAPEP). National Poverty Eradication Programme
was established in 2001 and involved all the stakeholders in poverty
eradication in Nigeria namely the federal, state, local governments, civil
society organizations, research institutions, the organized private sectors,
women groups and concerned individuals (Okoye and Onyukwu, 2017). NAPEP aimed
to address the aspects of absolute poverty and to eradicate them. The stakeholders
recognized that certain fundamental reasons were responsible for the inadequacy
of anti-poverty measures over the years and they include the absence of a
policy framework, inadequate involvement of stakeholders, poor implementation
arrangements and lack of proper coordination. All these seem to have received
attention in designing NAPEP and to make it different from all past efforts.
The mandate was to monitor and coordinate all poverty eradication efforts in
order to harmonize and ensure better delivery, maximum impact and effective
utilization of available resources. In effort to eradicate poverty, the
government arranged NAPEP into four schemes. These are Youth Empowerment
Schemes (YES), Rural Infrastructure (IRDS), Social Welfare Schemes (SOWESS),
and the National Resources Development and Conservation Scheme (NRDCS) (Okoye
and Onyukwu. 2017) The program is seen as an improvement of the various
Nigerian government poverty reduction programmes. Analysis showed that that the
program has been able to train 130,000 youths and engaged 216.000 persons, but
most of the beneficiaries were non poor prudence. In summary the the programme
failed to focus the poor, programme inconsistency, poor implementation or
severe budgetary and governance problems, corruption etc ( Okoye and Onyukwu,
2017) Though successive governments have tried to address the issue of poverty
as captured above, the effect of the strategies and programmes has been that of
mixed feelings. The questions bothering a great number of Nigerians are: If so much efforts have been made towards
reducing poverty in Nigeria, why is poverty on the increase? What is the effect of the increasing poverty
rate on the nation’s economy? and
lastly, are there better ways or
strategies of implementing poverty reduction programmes to make them more effective?
Conclusively, most of the poverty alleviation initiations
are best pursued through the local governments in Nigeria, since they are the
government and organ closest to the people. In such circumstance, the
researcher deems it imperative to embark on the study: Impact of Poverty on the
life style of Nigerians: A Study of Nsukka and Enugu North Local Government
areas of Enugu State.
1.2.
STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
There is no doubt that poverty remains a global problem,
but in Nigerian, it is hit by the twin problems of poverty and
under-development. This may be attributed to a number of factors, some of which
are mismanagement of human and material resources, indiscipline, the lack of
political will by the government of the country, beginning from the
post-independence and present day Nigeria. Rather than tackle development and
poverty alleviation in the society, our policy makers or if you like, politicians have appeared to have converted
leadership positions and public offices into avenues of squander mania,
embezzlement, corruption, money laundering abroad, to the neglect of the peoples
suffering and development. As a result
of these underdevelopment and poverty in the land, the country has woken up to
witness such anti-social activities and vices like armed robbery, cultism, drug
trafficking, prostitution, child labour and trafficking, ritual killings,
political thuggery, herdsmen, Boko haram
killings and assassinations, etc. This
phenomenon has left the country highly underdeveloped socially, economically
and technologically. This has created a situation of mass graduate unemployment
and other social vices articulated from the foregoing. Highly skilled trained
manpower and infrastructure facilities are either under-utilised or
non-existent.
The various government programmes aimed at eradicating or
alleviating poverty have not stood the test of time, as they have not actually
impacted positively on the people. Past Military and current civilian
Government introduced several poverty alleviating measures which has done more
harm than good.. However well
intentioned, these programmes were hijacked by the politicians as the
philosophy behind the setting up of these programmes were politicised, thereby
undermining the objective of setting up these programmes. For instance,
beneficiaries of these programmes are usually party faithful, loyalists and
family members instead of genuine members of the society, that is, the needy.
The distribution of aids by these agencies are also characterized by victimization,
political instability, corruption, lack of acceptability, lack of commitment
and the political will by the government, have been some of the reasons blamed
for the non-performance and sustenance of these measures.
The researcher further view other problems as most
Nigerians live in poverty In all respects for which comparative data is
available, the poverty situation in Nigeria is only slightly better than what
obtains in sub-Sahara Africa as a whole and generally worse than what obtains
in low-income economies and as a whole and in many individual African countries
whose GNP per-capita and natural endowments are much lower than Nigeria’s. Certain sections of the population have been
particularly vulnerable to poverty and continue to bear most of the sufferings
associated with the scourge. Such severely affected groups include farmers and
other rural dwellers, the teeming millions who operate the informal sector of
the urban economy; the elderly and the aged; women, the disabled, and of course
all those trapped in the remote regions where arable land is scarce and where
draught, floods, environmental degradation, etc
hinders economic activity and
keep both output and productivity low continuously, Poverty gives rise to many other serious social
problems, some of which, not only impose enormous economic and social costs
upon the non-poor and society in general, but also threaten the survival and
stability of the society. Poverty is
definitely not just a problem for the poor, but for the non-poor as well,
indeed for society as a whole. The above mentioned problems motivated the
researcher to carry out a research work on the Impact of Poverty on the life
style of Nigerians: A study of Nsukka and Enugu North Local Government areas of
Enugu State.
1.3.
OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to determine the
impact of poverty on the life style of Nigerians: A Study of Nsukka and Enugu North local Government area
of Enugu State. While the specific objectives are to;
1. Determine the
extent to which poverty affect the lifestyle of Nsukka and Enugu North Local Government
indigenes in Enugu State.
2. Ascertain the
various factors that causes poverty in Nsukka and Enugu North local Government of
Enugu State,
3. Assess the
capability of the various poverty alleviation programmes in curtailing poverty
in Nsukka and Enugu North local Government of Enugu State,
4.
Examine the
effects of poverty management strategies on the citizen’s welfare in Nsukka and
Enugu North local Government area of Enugu State.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
In carrying out this study the following questions become
imperative;
1. To what extent does poverty affect the lifestyle
of Nsukka and Enugu North local Government indigenes in Enugu State?
2. What are the various factors that cause
poverty in Nsukka and Enugu North local Government areas of Enugu state?
3. What is the capability of the various poverty
alleviation programmes in curtailing poverty in Nsukka and Enugu North Local
Government area of Enugu state?
4. What are the effects of poverty management
strategies on citizen’s welfare in Nsukka and Enugu North Local Government area
of Enugu state?
1.5 RESEARCH
HYPOTHESES
The following hypotheses posited in null form were tested
to aid the study.
H01: Poverty has no significant effect on the
lifestyle of Nsukka and Enugu North local Government
indigenes in Enugu State.
H02: Mismanagement of human and material
resources, indiscipline, corruption and lack of
political will by the Government
do not cause poverty in Nsukka and Enugu North local
Government areas of Enugu State
H03: There is no significant relationship between
poverty alleviation programmes and Poverty
reduction in Nsukka and Enugu North local Government area of Enugu State.
H04: Poverty management strategies have no
significant effects on citizen’s welfare in Nsukka and
Enugu North local Government area of Enugu State.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This research is a
relevant material and a great contribution to knowledge, constituting a
veritable reference material on the studies of poverty alleviation and related
subject matter for further research. This study creates awareness and
assistance on the need to eradicate poverty for the achievement of the first
agenda of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Also, since each of the
seven other goals of the MDGs addresses an aspect of poverty, the study will be
of immense benefit to various machineries and organs of Governments in the
areas of curtailing poverty and its eradication which will automatically lead
to the achievement of the remaining goals.
In addition, the significance of this research is felt in
the area of prompting Government and its relevant agencies to re-examine its
strategies towards poverty eradication in Nigeria. Furthermore, it will help
the researcher to identify and as well know government efforts towards
eradication of poverty in Nigeria.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study is categorized into Unit scope,
Content scope and Geographical scope.
1.7.1
Unit scope
This study attempted to examine how poverty as an (independent
variable) affects the life style (dependent variable) of Nigerian citizens. As
a result, only the citizens of Nsukka and Enugu North local Government area of
Enugu State constituted the population for this study as samples were drawn
randomly from them.
1.7.2 Content scope
The study was designed to examine the impact of poverty
on the life style of Nigerians: A study of Nsukka and Enugu North local
Government in Enugu State. It attempted to determine the extent to which
poverty contradicts with the country’s immense wealth, investigate the various
factors that caused poverty, assess the capability of the various poverty
alleviation programmes in curtailing poverty
and to examine the effects of poverty management strategies on the
citizens of Nsukka and Enugu North local Government area of Enugu State.
1.7.3 Geographical
scope
The selected local Governments
are all in Enugu State. Enugu State is in the South-east geo-graphical
zone of Nigeria. It was created on August 27, 1991 with Enugu city as its
capital. The state derives its name Enugu (Hill Top) from the capital
city which was established in 1909 as small coal mining town. From Enugu the
British administration was able to spread its influence over the southern
Province of Nigeria. The Colonial past of Enugu is today evidence by the
Georgian building types and meandering narrow roads within the residential area
originally reserved for the whites, an area which is today called the
Government Reserved Area (GRA.)
From being the capital of the
southern Province, Enugu became the capital of the Eastern Region (now divided
into nine States), and Capital of the defunct Republic of Biafra, thereafter it
became the capital of East Central State, Anambra State, (old) Enugu State, and
now the present Enugu State through a process of state creation and diffusion
of administrative authority. A traditional Enugu man is hospital, warm and
enterprising. The State is predominately occupied by the Igbo ethnic group with
some pockets of Igala speaking communities of Ette in Igbo-Eze-North LGA,
Ogurugu and Ojjor in Uzo-Uwani LGA respectively.
1.8
LIMITATIONS
OF THE STUDY
The study was
limited by the following factors:
Time: One of the reasons for restricting the area of this study to Nsukka and
Enugu North local Government area of Enugu State was time, as a result, some of
the local Governments where data and information could have been obtained were
not visited hence, the researcher managed the time apportioned for the study
and reset his priorities in order to circumvent the challenges.
Attitude of the respondents: The researcher experienced an initial slow
response from the respondents who were mainly busy with their daily activities
but this was mitigated by having constant follow up on phones and the physical
visit to the respondents’ homes and offices. Also, the selected local
governments considered some information confidential and hence could not be
willing to reveal them. The researcher sought for a letter of introduction from
the university to assure the respondents that the information provided would be
used for academic purpose only and would thereby treated with confidentiality.
Methodology constraints: However, these constraints, it must be
stated, have not in any way vitiated the reliability of this research but has
rather provided the impetus necessary to accomplish the stated objectives at
this research with resilience and determination.
1.9
DEFINITION OF OPERATIONAL TERMS
Poverty: This refers to the
scarcity or the lack of a certain (variant) amount of material possessions or
money. Poverty is a multifaceted concept, which may include social
economic, and political, elements. Absolute poverty, extreme
poverty, or destitution refers
to the complete lack of the means necessary to meet basic personal needs such
as food, clothing and shelter.
Poverty management: This is the use of several
poverty alleviation programmes or policies to eradicate or curtail the level of
poverty and ensure that the policies and programmes achieve what is meant to
achieve effectively and efficiently.
Lifestyle: This refers to the
interests, opinions, behaviours, and behavioural orientations of an individual,
group, or culture. It also includes a person's basic character as established
early in childhood. Lifestyle is a combination of determining intangible
or tangible factors. Tangible factors relate specifically to demographic
variables, i.e. an individual's demographic profile, whereas intangible factors
concern the psychological aspects of an individual such as personal values,
preferences, and outlooks.
Strategies: This means a
high-level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of
uncertainty. It is the art of troop leader; office of general, command, general
ship. In the sense of the "art of
the general" which included several subsets of skills including
"tactics", siege craft, logistics etc.
NAPEP: NAPEP is an acronym that
stands for the national poverty eradication programme, established in 2001 by
the Obansajo's regime to combat poverty and raise the living standard of
Nigerians. it was designed to replace PAP, which initially carried out the duty
of combating poverty and other related issues, PAP stands for poverty alleviation
programme. NAPEP, is complemented by NAPEC. the national poverty eradication
council, which oversees all poverty related activities and mini programmes of
NAPEP. NAPEP has other sub programmes under it, all geared toward achieving the
bigger goal 'poverty eradication but have been one way or another minimally
implemented ineffectively in some local government areas in the country.
UBE: The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme
is a nine (9) year basic educational programme, which was launched and executed
by the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to eradicate
illiteracy, ignorance and poverty as well as stimulate and accelerate national
development, political consciousness and national integration. Former President
Olusegun Obasanjo flagged off UBE on 30 th September 1999 in Sokoto , Sokoto
State. The UBE Programme is Nigeria's strategy for the achievement of Education
for All (EFA) and the education-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
NACA: The National
Agency for the Control of AIDS (formerly National Action Committee on AIDS) was
established in February 2000 to coordinate the various activities of HIV/AIDS
in the country. Among other purposes, NACA's mandates are to: Coordinate and sustain
advocacy by all sectors and at all levels for HIV/AIDS/STDs expanded Responses
in Nigeria, develop the framework for collaboration and support from all
stakeholders for a multi-sect oral and multi-disciplinary response to HIV/AIDS
in Nigeria, develop and present to the Presidential Council on AIDS, PCA, all
plans on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria for policy decisions, develop and articulate a
strategic plan for an Expanded National Response to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, coordinate,
monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Strategic National Plan for the
control of HIV/AIDS/STDs in Nigeria and all other approved policies, coordinate
and facilitate the mobilization of resources for an effective and sustainable
response to HIV/AIDS/STDs in Nigeria, and Undertake any other duties as
assigned by the PCA from time to time
1.10
PROFILE OF NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in South-East
Nigeria in Enugu State. Towns that share a common border with Nsukka, are
EdemAni, Alor-Uno, Opi, Orba and Ede-Oballa, Obimo. Other nearby towns include
Enugu Ezike, Obollo-Afor (formerly centre of the palm oil trade), Nimbo, Adani,
UzoUwani and Mkpologwu, now also lay claim to the name Nsukka. This is because
they all collectively fall into the political zoning system in Nigeria known as
Senatorial Zone. Nsukka Town is known as the site of the University of Nigeria,
the first indigenous Nigerian university, founded by Dr.NnamdiAzikiwe, first
President of Nigeria. Currently the town has a number of Federal Parastatals in
the university such as NABDA, CBSS, and the Energy Research Centre.
The LGA
Nsukka LGA has an area of 1,810 km² and a population of
309,633 at the 2006 census. The Local Government Headquarters is located in the
hilly and green sites which Nsukka is known for close to colonial quarters of
the pre-Independence years. The present Chairman of the Local Government Area
council caretaker committee is Prof RoselineOnah who assumed leadership in
early 2016.The postal code of the area is 410001 and 410002 respectively
referring to University of Nigeria Campus, and Nsukka Urban.
History
Nsukka is home to members of the Igbo ethnic group.
Little is known about the history of Nsukka town except that the Kingdom of Nri
had contact with Nsukka in earlier periods. However, in the book 'Igbo/Igala
Borderland' the ancient American writer traced the origin of Nsukka to the
earlier traders from Arochukwu in the present Abia State, who initially rested
and later settled down there. In July 1967, Nsukka was one of the first Biafran
towns to be captured by the northern Nigerian forces during their so-called
'police action' at the outset of the Nigerian-Biafran War. This action, during
which Nsukka's university was burned down, created many refugees and contributed
to the chaos and suffering inherent in this bloody conflict.
Events
According to Benjamin Chinweike Ezema (now called
Ezemmah) Nsukka is a town that is made up of three prominent communities,
namely the Nkpunanor community, the Ihen'Owerre community and the Nru
community. Oral history has it that Nsukka has very close ties with three other
neighbouring towns: Obukpa, Okpuje and Eha, which are said to have common
ancestral origins. Nsukka, Obukpa, and Okpuje are siblings of AsaduIdeke Arumona;
while the last – Eha is a patrilineal brother of the other three relations. The
town is therefore called "Eha-Alumona". Nsukka town has very ancient
culture and traditions that are almost lost in antiquity due to the late
awakening of the indigenes to the relevance and necessity of the pursuit of
intellectual erudition and research. Each community is composed of many other
smaller villages and clans.
A number of festivals are celebrated by the people of
Nsukka, including the Omabe Masquerade Festival; the OnwaEto, or Onwa Ito (the
3rd moon) Festival, which is characterised by the slaughtering of several fowls
in each household for each child in the household and in memory of deceased
family members; the OnwaIse (the 5th moon Festival – which is also known as the
moon that marks the beginning of the harvesting of yams (some people call it
the New Yam Festival in English Language); OnwaEsa'a (the 7th moon Festival);
the Onunu Festival which is characterised by the going to the 'Nkwo' market
Arena (where the 'Oromme' Dance, traditional wrestling, etc., was performed);
The OnwaEsa'a (the 7th Moon Festival) was noted as the period for the
commencement of the eating of the dried cocoyam (Echicha). Of the numerous
festivals by which Nsukka was known, only the Omabe festival is still being
widely celebrated in the town.
Secondary education
Nsukka has some of the most recognised educational
institutions in south-eastern Nigeria. St. Teresa's College, Nsukka (all boys)
is one of the oldest schools in Nsukka and is situated right at the heart of
Nsukka township. It is run by the Catholic Church of Nsukka diocese. Queen of
the Holy Rosary Secondary School is an all-girls school, also operated by the
Catholic Church of Nsukka diocese. Nsukka High School is a public (government-run)
school with Anglican Church heritage. Model Secondary School, Nsukka, is a day
school for male and female students. St Cyprian's Special Science School Nsukka
is an all-science boarding school for girls. There is also the Urban Girls
Secondary School, Federal Government Girls' College Lejja Nsukka, which a
federal government-owned girls' school. University of Nigeria Secondary School
belongs to the university and is also top notch.
1.11 PROFILE OF ENUGU NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AREA
Enugu North is a
local Government Area of Enugu State. Its headquarters are in the city of
Enugu. It has an area of 106km2 and a population of 242140 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 400 Enugu North became a municipality in 1996
with Umarualtine its first mayor. The local government is made up of Rural
dwellers (Ogui and Ngwo Communities) and the urban dwellers.
Brief history of Ogui community
According to
IbeaniIbeani (2006), the origin of Ogui Nike, just like iji, had many versions.
First, they were said to be descendant of refugees from an unknown village.
Also Ogui was believed to have moved from Akegbe to settle at Ugwu Eke, in
order to assist Nike during the celebrated war between Nike and Okpatu. After
the war, they settled at Iji and later moved to their present location to check
the encroachment of Awkunanaw on Nike land.
There was also a
common belief that Ogui and Akegbe were waging war against each other. The
morale of Ogui Nike proved so indomitable that some Nike villages (probably to
secure their own position) sold to Akegbe the idea of inviting the Alu
(renowned warriors from Ohafia). They suggested to Akegbe to set houses of Ogui
ablaze when they fled from their abode as an effective means of forestalling
further attacks. Soon enough, Akegbe implemented the advice of these villages
as regards setting the houses of Ogui ablaze.
Consequently, Ogui
fled to settle at Ihi and Ugwu Eke respectively. When the war was over, Ogui
had to go back to her former place when Iji people started farming on her land
and were reaping bumper harvest. When they finally settled there, cases of
abduction were rampant. Ogui would abduct from Akegbe and the latter would
retaliate. At a point, they came to realize the enormity and consequences of this
unhealthy relationship. It became clear to them that the general insecurity of
life was not good for their mutual existence. There and then, they resolved to
perform a rite known as “120 EGONYI” this is a ceremony of reconciliation.
Eating and drinking together, dancing and exchange of virgins (girls) were
essential features of this ceremony.
Worthy to remark, is
the fact that Akegbe and Ogui were said to have blood relationship some
quarters argued that it was actually the rite of “120 EGONYI” more than anything
that related Akegbe and Ogui. Ogui Nike has seven villages; Umunevo, Ihewusi,
Onuato, Enuguagu, Amaigbo, (Isiagu, Okpuno, Amaudala).
Brief history of Ngwo community
Ngwo people descended from the man called NgwoAko who
lived at a place now called ”Isi Okpoto” the present day St. Mary’s Catholic
Church and its environs with his wife. NgwoAko gave it the name “Okpotokpo”
literally in English (Large) because the fruits and trees that grew there were
of very large sizes and shapes. That is for him, they were “Okpotokpo” (very
large and huge). Living there with his wife, they begot ten (10) male children
who eventually metamorphosed into the ten Villages of Ngwo namely; Uboji,
Amankwo, Ameke, Ukaka, Enugu Etiti, Amachala, amaebo, Okwojo and Umuase. While the
first three (3) got settled at a place now called Ngwo Uno, the last seven (7)
settled at a place also now called Ngwo Asaa. That accounts for the two (2) big
shades/components of Ngwo, namely (Ngwo Uno) and Ngwo Asaa (Ngwo Agu). Ngwo is
the only town in Nigeria that is in two Local Government Areas. Those Local
Government Areas includes Udi and Enugu North Local Government Areas. This has
been so, either for political reasons or for Ngwo being critical as a major
landlord to the commercial nerve centres of those Local Government Areas
namely; Ninth mile corner and Enugu township. Geographically, Ngwo is bounded
to the North by Abor, to the South by Nsude, to the West by Eke and to the East
by Nike.
Ngwo remains a
historically important place in Enugu North and Enugu South in General.
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