ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF N-POWER PROGRAMME ON POVERTY REDUCTION AMONG BENEFICIARIES IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

In response to the increasing rate of poverty/unemployment in Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced N-Power empowerment programme aimed at lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty. The central problem which the study addressed was assessing the extent to which the N-Power programme impacted on poverty reduction in Kaduna and kano states. The objectives of the study where to examine the extent to which N-Power funding affect youth employment and poverty reduction in Gombe State. The Meta theory of Empowerment developed by Elisheva Seedam and translated by Flanze was adopted as theoretical framework for the study. The research design adopted was mixed method design by John W. Creswell and data were generated from both primary and secondary sources, with questionnaires, interviews, and observations as the instrument for primary data generation and were analyzed using both descriptive and statistical analysis/multiple regression analysis using statistical package for Social Scientist [SPSS] for the test of hypotheses. The study found that funding of N-Power programme has a significant positive effect on youth empowerment and poverty reduction in Gombe State. Consequently, it was therefore recommended that, N-Power funding should be revisited with a view to ensuring prompt payment of monthly stipends to the beneficiaries in the study state.