ABSTRACT
Poverty alleviation programmes has
been recognized as an instrument par excellence for effective community
development. It is infact a veritable tool for achieving economic prosperity
and community development.
Hence, it could be said that poverty
alleviation is a sinequanon to community development.
The past governments have no doubt initiate d and implemented various poverty alleviation programmes with the aim of
reducing poverty to the barest minimum which would unequivocally bring about
community development. The major thrust of this paper therefore is to access
the impact of poverty alleviation programmes on community development.
Particularly in Ojo local government area of Lagos State.
The study sought to determine the
various poverty alleviation programmes initiated by the government, its extent of achievement of its aims and examine its impact on the overall
development of the community.
The sample consists of two major
markets. (Alaba International Market and Iyana Iba market). Two (2) higher
institution: "Lagos
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background
of the Study
1.2 Objectives
of the Study
1.3 Objectives of the problem
1.4 Statement
of Problem
1.5 Problem of the Study
1.6 Significance
of the Study
1.7 Research
Questions
1.8 Research
Hypothesis
1.9 Scope
or Delimitation
1.10 Limitation
of the Study
1.11 Definition
of Terms
References
CHAPTER TWO:
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Etymology
of Poverty
2.2 What
is Poverty?
2.3 Causes of Poverty
2.4 Effects of Poverty
2.5 Factors
Contributing To Poverty in
Nigeria
2.6 How Best Could Poverty Be Reduced?
2.7 Past Attempts to Alleviate Poverty in
Nigeria
2.8 Theories of Local Government
2.9 Historical Background of Ojo Local
Government
CHAPTER
THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample and Sampling Techniques
3.4 Instrumentation
3.5 Data Analysis
3.6 Validity
of Instrument
3.7 Method of Data Collection
CHAPTER
FOUR
RESULT
AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.0 Method of Data Analysis
4.1 Data Presentation
CHAPTER
FIVE
5.1 Summary of Findings
5.2 Recommendation
5.3 Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The prevalence of poverty today in
our society has not only dwindled its economic situation but also deteriorated
the development of our community. The plan for prosperity must address a
startling paradox about two-third of the Nigerian people are poor despite living
in a country with vast potential wealth.
Although revenues from
crude oil have been increasing over the past decades, yet our people
have been wallowing in abject poverty. In 1980 an estimated 27 percent of
Nigerians lived in poverty, By 1999, about 70 percent of the population lived
in poverty earning an income of less than $1 a day and the figure has increased
since then. Life expectancy is a mere 54
years, and infant mortality (77 per
1,000) and maternal mortality (704 per 100,000 live births) are among the
highest in the world. Other social indictors (from 1999) are also weak.
·
Only
10% of the population had access to essential drugs.
·
There
were fewer than 30 physicians per 100,000 people.
·
Among
children, almost 30 percent were under weight, qualitatively, poverty in our
society (Nigeria) has many manifestations and dimensions including joblessness.
Over indebtness, economic dependence, inability to provide the basic needs of
life for self and family among other dimensions of poverty.
Community development can only be
perceived as mere illusion in a society where poverty has actually engulfed the
entire system.
The plethora of poverty alleviation
programmes which the past governments had initiated and implemented only
appears to impoverish the poor while the rich on the other hand seems to become richer.
The response of various
administrators to the poverty problems appears to have been largely adhoc and
uncoordinated. A recent survey of policies and interventions chronicles 28 federal projects and
programmes with poverty reduction thrust. Several state governments have also
put poverty reduction schemes in place.
With the advent of democratic
government in 1999 measures were adopted
to streamline poverty-related institutions, review past poverty alleviation
programmes and harmonize sectoral efforts. While none of these programmes was completely without merits, none of them had a
significant, lasting or sustainable positive effect.
Hence, the dire need to critically
analyse various poverty alleviation programmes
and their achievements made with regards to the development of our community.
It is hoped that the result of this study will provide useful strategies which when adopted, would make the impact of poverty
alleviation programmes
felt on community development.
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The rationale behind this study can
be summarized into the follow.ng
points:
i. Provision of background and indepth
knowledge the historical antecedent of poverty and poverty alleviation
programmes in Nigeria.
ii. To critically analyse the weaknesses of the programmes.
iii.
To juxtapose alleviation of poverty
with community development, nothing their relationship and the effect of one
over the other.
iv.
Suggest possible solution to end failure of poverty
alleviation programmes particularly in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State
and how community development could help reduce poverty to the nearest minimum
level.
1.3 OBJECTIVES
OF
THE STUDY
At the end of the study, this
research work seeks to:
(i)
Determine the level of achievements and weaknesses of
past attempts made by the government at alleviating poverty.
(ii)
To establish the inter-relationship
between poverty alleviation and community development.
(iii) Make the government and poverty alleviation facilitator
realise the failure of past poverty alleviation programme and their causes.
1.4 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Quite incontrovertible is the fact
that sequel to the introduction of various poverty alleviation programmes by
the governments. Nigerians are bound to develop certain feelings and opinions about the programmes.
The development of positive attitude
towards the programmes will no doubt facilitate the implementation and success
of such programmes with regards to community development.
It is therefore imperative to ensure
that citizens participate actively in project formulation and implementation
which they are supposed to be the beneficiaries.
Equally that the facilitators of such
programmes should use the programmes as a means of emancipating the poor from
the shackles of poverty rather than a means of amassing -illegal wealth.
1.5 PROBLEM OF THE STUDY
The problems militating against this
study may be said to be multidimensional as against the statement of the
problem. A clear manifestation of the above mention fact can be evident in the
nature of poverty reduction strategies in Nigeria itself. Previous research work made it obvious that
several major factors hindering the success of government efforts to reduce the level of poverty includes:
·
Nigerian's
legacy of mismanagement and corrupt governance.
·
The
boom - and - bust made-of economic management.
·
The
limited growth of investment and technological innovation.
·
Poor
coordination.
·
Absence
of a comprehensive policy frame work. These alongside other reasons such as
the.
·
Large
expanse of geographical boundaries in which the country is situated.
·
The
stress and problems associated with travelling.
·
The
financial implication of travelling in a bid to source or relevant information in the different geopolitical
zones within the country.
·
The
hazards posed by poor road facilities coupled with the implications of
travelling bad roads.
These among other reasons would not
doubt limit the scope of the study to a sample of a population while the result
deduced from such sample is then generalized.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The result of this study will not
doubt to a large extent expose the weaknesses and achievements of past poverty
alleviation programmes.
Equally, it would provide basis for
effective guidance for the facilitators to modify/reinforce
their attitude towards achieving the set goals for the programmes put in place.
It is also believed that the result of this
study will avail the government the opportunity to study past attempts at
alleviating poverty to see where their mistakes lies and then devise a means
for progress in this regard.
1.7 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i. What
is poverty and its etymology?
ii. What
are the causes and effects of poverty?
iii. What
are the factors contributing to poverty in Nigeria?
iv. How
best could poverty be reduced or alleviated?
v. What past attempts have been made by the
government to reduce poverty in Nigeria, its achievements and weaknesses?
vi.
What are the effects of poverty
alleviation programmes on community development in Ojo Local Government?
vii.
How best can we evaluate the progress made by the government in alleviating poverty?
1.8 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0:
Poverty alleviation is not a
prerequisite for community development.
Hi: Poverty
alleviation is a prerequisite for community development,
1.9 SCOPE OR DELIMITATION
This study will basically deal with the assessment / impact of poverty alleviation programmes as an
indispensable tool for community development particularly m "Ojo Local
Government" area of Lagos state.
1.10 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Poverty reduction is no doubt the
most difficult challenge facing Nigeria and its people and the greatest
obstacle to the pursuit of sustainable socio-economic growth and community
development.
Poverty levels vary across the
country, with the highest proportion of poor people in the North West and the
lowest people in the south-West.
Although this study seeks to appraise
the impact of poverty alleviation programmes on community development in
Nigeria. However, distance geographical location of different geo- political zones alongside cost implications of travelling and time
involved in such research work would no doubt limit the scope /areas to be covered by the research work.
Hence, a sample of Ojo Local
Government area of Lagos state would be used for the research work while the
result obtained would
then be generalized.
1.11 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Alleviation: This is the act to
make something painful suffering less or easier to bear.
Strategies: This is the skill in managing any
affairs.
Pauperization: A situation of a person with no means
of livelihood, especially one who is supported by charity. They are sometimes called paupers.
Dilapidated: A state of a thing/ an object being
damage/ ruined.
Deteriorate: To grow worse and get damaged.
Poverty: The deprivation of those things that
determine the quality of life, including food, clothing, shelter and safe
drinking.
Destitute: When someone is in need or without
any means of livelihood, it is all extreme case or poverty.
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