Between Hope And Despair: Assessing the Perception of Corp Members, Towards Poverty Reduction Initiative in Ngaski Local Government Area, Kebbi State

Abstract

The high rate of unemployment especially among youths coupled with poor enrolment in poverty alleviation programmes such as the National Youth Service Corps-Millennium Development Goals-War Against Poverty (NYSC/MDGs/WAP) initiative informs the need for this study. The study was conducted in Ngaski local government area of Kebbi state where a total of 76 serving corp members were selected for the study. Survey research design was adopted and questionnaires were administered to the respondents. The results from the study revealed that about two-third of corp members were aware of the NYSC/MDGs/WAP initiative but did not enrol due to lack of interest. It was also discovered in the study that while corp members agree that the initiative will effectively reduce poverty, hunger and unemployment, the conditions guiding the acquisition of the loan were difficult to comply with and thus the poor attitude towards the initiative. Findings also revealed that corp members believe business without the loan has more prospects and about half of the corp members were engaged in agro-allied businesses without the loan. Given that respondents disagreed with the adequacy of the awareness, the study concludes by suggesting that more awareness campaigns are needed in order to meet the target of the initiative. In addition, the simplification and relaxation of some rigid demands guiding the acquisition of the loan will help in boosting enrolment from the target group. Also, involvement of other levels of government would allow for more applicants to benefit from the loan by virtue of increased funding.