Strategies for Improving Socioeconomic Well-being of Families in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State

Abstract

The scourge of COVID-19 has crippled many businesses in Nigeria while some are still struggling to overcome the associated negative social effects. The socioeconomic wellbeing of many families has been threatened and this calls for the need of exploring strategies in improving their socio-economic wellbeing. This study seeks to determine strategies for improving the socio-economic wellbeing of families in Awka South LGA of Anambra State. This paper has three research questions that guided the paper and three hypotheses. This paper adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. The population is families in Awka South LGA, Anambra State. A total of 307 sample size was determined using the Taro Yamane formula for sample size determination however, the analysis was done with 231 correctly returned responses. Cluster sampling and simple random sampling techniques were used to select required households. A 4-Likert structured online questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Descriptive statistics, which comprised mean scores and standard deviation were used to analyze the data got from the questionnaire. Simple linear regression was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significant level. The study found that strategies such as developing online marketing, entrepreneurial, and managerial skills for generating jobs and income can improve the socio-economic wellbeing of families amid COVID-19. The study recommended that the government agencies such as the National Directorate of Employment and in collaboration with Non-Government Organizations need to create innovation hubs to help families develop employability skills or self-employment skills that are viable in an online-driven economy/labour market stimulated by COVID 19 pandemic.