Perceived impacts of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) in poverty reduction and implications for Social Work practice

Abstract

The indicators of poverty in Nigeria showed that poverty is in increase and rural areas were the most affected. Rural people find it difficult to have three square meals daily as well as other basic requirements of life such as shelter and clothing. Despite several efforts at reducing poverty in Nigeria, a 2018 World Poverty Clock (WPC) report indicated that 90.8 million Nigerians representing 46.4% of its estimated 195.6 million people are living in extreme poverty, making Nigeria a country with the highest number of life-threatening poor people in the world. The study was conducted in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria and both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were employed to analyze the data from 483 respondents. The results of the study showed that while majority of the respondents constituting 99.3 % indicated that the programme has positive impacts on their lives, 53.8% majority perceived NAPEP as being ineffective in poverty reduction. The study therefore recommended amongst others that the real beneficiaries of the programme should be involved in the planning and implementing stages so that their views will be considered.