Empowerment Strategies and Poverty Reduction in Bayelsa State: A Non-Parametric Approach

Peter Fiderikumo

doi:10.11648/j.ajere.20180301.11

Abstract

The incidence of poverty in Nigeria is rising despite a plethora of anti-poverty programmes and huge public expenditure. The objective of this study is to evaluate the extent and impact of three major empowerment strategies in the war against poverty namely social mobilization, skill development and capital formation in Bayelsa State. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey of Bayelsa State using structured and semi-structured questionnaire to collect primary data from 380 indigenous adult spread across 40 communities. The data was measured on the basis of the modified four points Likert scale and analysed using percentage and mean. The results depicted that social mobilization as a strategy is not used in reaching the poor. The implication is that to a great extent the impact of anti-poverty interventions do not get to the poor. The skill development programme although relevant and practical in approach has benefited only a limited number of people due mainly to hoarding of information, urban-biased, and nepotism. The participants are rarely supported with starter pack, tools, or finance. Procedure and requirement for obtaining business loan are tedious and fraught with nepotism. The empowerment programme has not resulted in capital formation and has not enhanced income of beneficiaries. It concluded that not sufficient resources are committed to these strategies. Therefore, increased use of the empowerment strategies will reduce poverty in Bayelsa State and Nigeria at large.

Highlights

The worsening incidence of poverty necessitates continual assessment of anti-poverty strategies and programmes
Item Statement Skill development is pursued as a strategy of poverty reduction
We accept the proposition that skill development is significantly pursued as a strategy of poverty reduction

Summary

Introduction

The worsening incidence of poverty necessitates continual assessment of anti-poverty strategies and programmes. The war on poverty in Nigeria is as old as the country itself. Successive governments at federal and state levels have spent huge sums of money on programmes and projects to alleviate poverty. [1] since the inception of civilian rule the main thrust of government policy and budget has been on poverty reduction in line with the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals which has as central theme the eradication of extreme poverty in half by 2015. Poverty eradication strategies have been aimed at removing social and legal barriers to income growth among the poor.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion