ABSTRACT
Poverty
is a major problem in developing countries including Nigeria. In Nigeria,
poverty has become endemic, affecting social, political and economic aspects of
peoples’ lives. Poverty discourse and definitions are multifarious and highly
extensive. However, poverty is pronounced when the basic necessities of life,
which include adequate income, education, good health, security,
self-confidence and certain freedoms, are absent. Literature abounds in
expatiating on the subject matter. Furtherance to the discussion is the search
for diverse solutions to the bane of poverty especially in developing countries.
Despite the fact that poverty is a common phenomenon in many developing
countries like Nigeria; it seems to be a unique dilemma that has defied all
understanding. The study focused on NGOs and poverty alleviation in Nigeria
with special reference to National Association of Seadogs NAS 2010-2015. NAS has been encountering serious
challenges in reaching its target areas in its work on poverty alleviation in
Nigeria 2010-2015. To this end, the study answered questions such as, to what
extent has NAS contributed to poverty alleviation in Nigeria 2010-2015 through
its operations and programmes? What are the constraints on effective
implementation of NAS poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria 2010-2015? What
relevant suggestions can be made to improve on NAS operations in relation to
poverty alleviation in Nigeria? This is predicated on three major objectives
designed to find out the extent to which NAS has contributed to poverty
alleviation in Nigeria 2010-2015 through its operation and programmes, to identify
the constraints to effective implementation of NAS poverty alleviation
programmes in Nigeria 2010-2015 and to outline relevant suggestions to improve
on NAS operations with respect to poverty alleviation in Nigeria. The study was
anchored on the theory of humanism postulated by Kenneth Kaunda. Three
hypothetical statements guided the work. They are, NAS operations have
significantly contributed to poverty alleviation in Nigeria 2010-2015; Lack of
funds, impassable roads and rewards are significant constraints on effective
implementation of NAS poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria 2010-2015; and
there is a significant positive relationship between NAS operations and the
suggested improvements to poverty alleviation programmes. The study suggested
that grants and assistance from government will improve the poverty alleviation
performance of NAS. Also, construction of passable roads will increase NAS
access to the very poor in rural areas of Nigeria.
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study – – – – – – 1
- Statement of the Problem – – – – – 6
- Objective of the Study – – – – – 9
- Significance of the Study – – – – 9
- Scope and Limitations of the Study – – 10
- Scope of the Study – – – – – – 10
- Limitations of the Study – – – – – 10
CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW AND RESEARCH PROCEDURE
2.1 Literature Review – – – – – – 12
- The Concept of Poverty – – – – 12
- The Concept of Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) 16
2.1.3 NGOs Approaches to Poverty Reduction – – – 17
2.1.4 NGOs and Rural Development in Nigeria – – – – 19
2.1.4.1 NGOs and Health Provision in Nigeria – – – – 19
2.1.4.2 NGOs and Environmental Protection, Human Rights, Reconciliation and Peace in Nigeria – – – – – – – 21
2.1.4.3 NGOs and Educational Development in Nigeria – 22
2.1.4.4 NGOs and Economic Development in Nigeria – – – 24
2.1.5 The Problems of NGOs – – – – – – – 25
2.1.5.1 Lack of Funds – – – – – – – 25
2.1.5.2 Lack of Dedicated Leadership – – – – – 26
2.1.5.3 Inadequate Trained Personnel – – – – – 26
2.1.5.4 Misuse of Funds – – – – – – – 27
2.1.5.5 Monopolization of leadership – – – – – – 27
2.1.5.6 Lack of Public Participation – – – – – – 27
2.1.5.7 Centralization in Urban Areas – – – – – 28
2.1.5.8 Lack of Coordination – – – – – – – – 28
2.1.5.9 Lack of Volunteerism/Social work among Youth – – 28
2.1.5.10 Modernization – – – – – – – 29
2.1.5.11 Target orientated and time-bound Programmes – – 29
2.1.5.12 Area of Interest – – – – – – – 29
2.1.6 Gap in Literature – – – – – – – 29
2.2 Theoretical Framework – – – – – – – 30
2.2.1 Tenets of the Theory – – – – – – – 34
2.2.2 Application of the Theory to the Study – – – – – 35
- Hypotheses – – – – – – – – 36
2.4 Operationalization of Key Concepts – – – – – 36
- Research Procedure – – – – – – 37
- Research Design – – – – – – – 37
2.5.2 Sources and Method of Data Collection – – – – 38
2.5.3 Data Gathering Instruments – – – – – 38
2.5.4 Validity of the Instruments – – – – – – 39
2.5.5 Reliability of the Instruments – – – – – 40
2.5.6 Population of the Study – – – – – – 41
2.5.7 Sample Size and Sampling Procedure – – – – – 41
2.5.7.1 Sample Size – – – – – – – – 41
2.5.7.2 Sampling Procedure – – – – – – – 42
2.5.8 Method of Data Analysis — – – – – – 43
CHAPTER THREE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE CASE STUDY AND STUDY AREA
- Background Information on NAS – – – 44
3.1.1 NAS Vision Outlook and Mission Statement – – 44
3.1.2 NAS Philosophy; Aims and Objectives – – – 45
3.1.3 Growth, Structure and Management – – – – 46
3.1.4 Thematic Areas of NAS Operations – – – – 50
3.1.5 NAS Projects, Programmes and Initiatives – – – 50
3.2 Background Information on Nigeria – – – – – – – 57 3.2.1 History – – – – – – – – – 58 3.2.2 Ethnic Groups – – – – – – – – 58 3.2.3 Economy – – – – – 59
CHAPTER FOUR DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS, FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Presentation of Personal Data of Respondents and Analysis – – 60
4.2 Summary of Findings – – – – – – -69
4.3 Discussion of Findings – – – – – -69 4.3.1 The Extent to which NAS has contributed to Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Nigeria – – – – 70 4.3.1.1 The NAS Medical Mission to Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria – -70 4.3.1.2 The NAS Street Child Project Programme – – – 78 4.3.1.3 NAS Community Cause Development Programmes – -81
4.3.1 The Extent to which NAS has contributed to Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Nigeria – – – – 70 4.3.1.1 The NAS Medical Mission to Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria – -70 4.3.1.2 The NAS Street Child Project Programme – – – 78 4.3.1.3 NAS Community Cause Development Programmes – -81
4.3.2 The Constraints on Effective Implementation of NAS Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Nigeria – – – – – 86
CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – – – 88
5.2 Recommendations – – – – – – – 89
5.3 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 90
References – – – – – – – – – – – 91 Appendix – – – – – – – – – – 99
LIST
OF TABLES
Table One: Gender of Respondents – – – – 60
Table Two: Marital Status of Respondents – – – – – 61
Table Three: Age Range of Respondents – – – – – 62
Table Four: Length of Membership of Respondents in NAS – 63
Table Five: Highest Educational Qualification of Respondents 64
Table Six: Mean and Standard Deviation of Responses on the Extent to Which NAS Operation – – – – – – 65
Table Seven: Mean and Standard Deviation of Responses on the Constraints on Effective Implementation of NAS Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Nigeria – – – – – – – – 66
Table Eight: Mean and Standard Deviation of Responses of Respondents on Relevant Suggestions That Can Improve NAS Operations in Relation To Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria – 66
Table Nine: χ2 Analysis to Test H1 – – – – – 67
Table Ten: χ2 Analysis to Test H2 – – – – – 68
Table Eleven: Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis for the Relationship between NAS Operation and Suggestion for Improvement in Relation to Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria. – 68
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig 1: NAS Organogram with the International President, the Management Team, Areas and 55 chapters/zones/decks — – 49
Fig 2: Gender – – – – – – – – – – 60
Fig 3: Marital Status – – – – – – – 61
Fig 4: Age Range – – – – – – – – 62
Fig 5: Membership – – – – – – – – 63
Fig 6: Qualification – – – – – – – – 64
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study
The wave of poverty, economic backwardness, dearth
of infrastructure, health challenges, unemployment, and natural disaster in
rural and urban areas are currently some of the most serious problems in the
world. Over 1.5 billion people of the world’s population live below the poverty
line of one dollar per day; out of which 250 million people are from
Sub-Saharan African (UNDP, 2008; Agba, Ushie, Ushie, Bassey & Agba (2009).
The Federal Office of Statistics Report indicated that about 15 per cent of
Nigerians in 1969 were poor; this number increased to 28 percent in 1980 and in
1985, it was 46 percent but dropped to 43 percent in 1992. The estimated
incidence of poverty in 1996 was 66 million out of 120 million Nigerians. It
was also reported in 2003 that 41.6 percent of Nigerians were poor, of which
majority were in rural communities (Aliyu, 2003).
Poverty is a major
problem in developing countries including Nigeria. In Nigeria, poverty has
become endemic, affecting social, political and economic aspects of peoples’
lives (Enugu State Poverty Reduction Strategy (ESPRS) Report, 2004). With a
population of about 125 million and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of
$280 in 1998, two-thirds of Nigerians are poor, thus rating her as the country
with the third highest number of poor people in the world (UNDP Report, 2003).
Most of these poor people are dependent on micro and small-scale farm and
off-farm enterprises for their livelihood. The Enugu State
Agricultural Development Programme Report (ENADEP, 2001) revealed that
the standard per capita income in sub-Saharan Africa stands at $1 per day. With
70% of the Nigerian population living below this accepted standard (ESPRS
(2004), it means that about ninety five (95) million Nigerians were living under
the poverty line. Again, poverty in Nigeria is deep and wide spread, and has a
very strong rural dimension. About 69.8% of Nigerians reside in the rural areas
and more than two-thirds of the extreme poor, living in these areas are farmers
(Ingawa, 2001). These people depend directly or indirectly on agriculture and
related activities for their livelihood.
Poverty discourse and definitions are multifarious and
highly extensive. However, poverty is pronounced when the basic necessities of
life, which include adequate income, education, good health, security,
self-confidence and certain freedoms, are absent. Literature abounds in
expatiating on the subject matter. Furtherance to the discussion is the search
for diverse solutions to the bane of poverty especially in developing
countries. Despite the fact that poverty is a common phenomenon in many
developing countries like Nigeria; it seems to be a unique dilemma that has
defied all understanding. Not even the economist’s interpretation and reasoning
of the problem as “a natural resource curse” in the case of Nigeria can fully
explain the country’s mass poverty (Adedeji, 2010).
Over several decades, poverty and
its associated problems have remained some of the most defining as well as
enduring features of most African states, especially Nigeria. Thus, according
to UNDP Human Development Report in Nigeria (2003), the poverty incidence in
the country is more preponderant as it remains unabated in rural areas, where
poverty alleviation supportive programmes are in short supply and most times
non-existent. Besides, and considering the effect it has in recent times, the
situation has become more worrisome. Furthermore, this has in turn, presented
Nigeria as a contradictory state (Ikejiani-Clark and Ezeh, 2008; Nwanolue and
Iwuoha, 2012). In a bid to redress the foregoing poverty situation, successive
Nigerian governments (colonial, civilian and military) had indeed, initiated
and executed a number of poverty alleviation programmes. As a member of the
United Nations and a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
Nigeria is a part of the world league of poverty-fighters through capacity
building, capacity acquisition and enhancement.
In the midst of the dilemma, the
people are finding means to lift themselves out of poverty or at least
alleviate it. ‘Top-down’ approaches by governments towards poverty alleviation
have now been partially superseded by locally driven strategies. These
strategies, which are based in host communities, are motivated by the desire to
improve local conditions and encourage local entrepreneurs.
The rapid growth of NGOs has been clearly revealed in a
major multi-nation study conducted by Lester Salamon, (1998) who finds it as a
major economic and social force. He remarks that the global rise of the
non-profit sector may be as important a development of the later twentieth
century as the development of the nation-state was in the nineteenth century. A
surprisingly large scale of non-profit activity was found in almost every place
the study team looked. The study, covering countries like France, Germany,
Hungary, Italy, Japan, UK, the USA, Brazil, Ghana, India, Nigeria and supports
the view that the sector is undoubtedly making fast strides in many spheres of
human activity. The sector, as the study shows, has turned out to be a big
employer offering employment to seven million people in the US, 1.4 million in
Japan, nearly one million in France, Germany and the UK combined. It forms an
average of 3.4 percent of these countries total work forces employing one in
every 11 workers holding service jobs. It is also found that the sector is
spending huge sums varying from 1.2 percent of the GDP in Hungary to 6.3
percent in the US with an average of 3.5 percent.
Apparently, the growth of the NGOs has
been phenomenal particularly during the last two decades. The presence of the
NGOs, especially those engaged in developmental efforts, has been strongly felt
during these years. In fact, the involvement of NGOs in development has become
indispensable today. It is estimated that about 10 percent – $8 billion of
public development aid world-wide is now being routed through NGOs. Again, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) are non-governmental,
non-profit creation, self-governing and led by willful volunteers. NGOs are
groupings that are outside the domain of government in the areas of formation,
funding, management and the processes and procedure in which they carry out
their set objectives geared towards cultural, socio-economic and political
transformation of all facets of the society. NGOs function alongside the
government as well as profit-based enterprises in delivery of social services
for the upliftment and well-being of the society, they are therefore referred
to as the third sector, (Ehigiamusoe 1998).
Today, the NGOs in Nigeria assume a
conspicuous role in multifarious developmental programmes and activities. The
achievements and success of NGOs in various fields and the excellent work done
by them in specific areas is no doubt a tremendous task that has helped to meet
the changing needs of the social system. However, in spite of its achievements
in various fields, NGOs are facing different problems which differ from
organization to organization, and from region to region
NGOs
are organizations that ensure that the active poor in the rural and urban areas
improve their standard of living through coordinated economic activities.
Omofonmwan and Odia (2009) emphasized that NGOs evolve from experiences,
interests, and innate zeal to respond to societal needs. NGOs have important
contributions in increasing the welfare of the poor people. Many NGOs have
various activities to empower the poor people.
This is in preference to a
‘smokestack’ chasing approach of seeking investment by large scale, external
firms (Stohr, 1990). Such strategies as self-help and communal efforts have
become common place especially in developing countries.
As hunger, disease, outbreak of wars, incidence of
kidnapping, natural disaster and massive poverty ravage the Nigerian
Federation, governments, international agencies and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) are leaving no stone unturned in fighting this social
monster (Mohammed, 1991, Akpanudoedehe, 2006; Agba, Agba, Okoro & Agba,
2010). National Association of Seadogs (NAS), an NGO in Nigeria assists to
contribute to national development in the areas of democracy and good
governance, public advocacy, healthcare delivery, education and functional
literacy, the development of the street child, environment, conflict
resolution, drug abuse and human rights. (NAS Annual Report 2015)
NAS does perform several functions,
geared towards the provision of means of livelihood to lift the people out of
poverty or reduce its intensity. The strategies may be direct or indirect and
mostly solely initiated and sustained by the organisation.
NAS is a multi-professional organization aimed at contributing
to the reduction of human suffering and to the development of poor rural areas
across Nigeria. They do this in various ways, e.g. by funding projects,
engaging in service provision and capacity building, public advocacy and
awareness. An example is the Street Child Project focused on taking the
Nigerian child off the street and giving the child a more meaningful life.
Another is the NAS Medical Mission, ensuring healthcare delivery to the rural
communities and oft-neglected areas of the society. As reported by Onochie
(2015), the NAS Medical Mission was established with a vision to reach the
indigent Nigerians needing medical help in targeted rural communities, with
special references to non-referral ailments. The NAS Medical Mission was taken
to new heights in 2015 with individual chapters doing NAS proud with their
localized support of the programme. Again, one of the high points of this
initiative was the construction, commissioning and handover on February 4, 2015
of a fully equipped, air conditioned and functional ICT/library to the Street
Child Care and Welfare Initiative (SCCWI), Yaba, Lagos; a charity that protects
the rights and lives of street children through participatory, long-term
education and residency (NAS Annual Report 2015). NAS has contributed
to poverty alleviation in Nigeria over the years but has also experienced some
obstacles in its poverty alleviation programmes. NAS
though a Nigerian-based NGO, has a global presence
with spread across five (5) continents, North America, Europe, Australia, Asia
and Africa where it is involved in voluntary human development activities.
(National Association of Seadogs website).
NAS as an NGO is a non-profit
voluntary organization deeply committed to the attainment of a just society, in
strict observance of the rule of law, where the interests and welfare of the
poor, marginalized, neglected, underprivileged, impoverished, downtrodden and
the needy members of the society are protected and attended.
This paper focuses on NGOs and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria; a study of NAS 2010-2015. As evident in NAS annual reports 2013-2015, it will expose to an extent the effectiveness of such efforts and also reveal expectations from the people in order to better appreciate the contribution by NAS.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs) AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SEADOGS (NAS) 2010-2015
