Non-governmental Organizations’ programmes and Poverty Alleviation in Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract

There has been tremendous involvement of NonGovernmental Organizations in helping governments alleviate poverty in Nigeria. This study therefore investigated the programmes of Non-governmental Organizations towards alleviating poverty using Enugu State as a case study. Specifically, it sought to examine the poverty alleviation programmes embarked upon by the NGOs; to ascertain how these programmes impacted on poverty alleviation; and to determine the various challenges affecting the success of these programmes in Enugu State. Descriptive survey design was employed for the investigation. Three (3) notable NGOs were engaged in the study. Population of the study was 527 persons comprising of staff of the three NGOs involved in the study and the beneficiaries of their programmes. Questionnaire instrument was used to elicit data for the study. T-test analysis technique was used to test the hypotheses formulated. Findings of the study revealed that there are various programmes initiated by NGOs in Enugu State and these programmes positively impacted on the citizens. However, these organizations were found to face various challenges which include limited funding, infrastructural deficiency, etc. The study recommended among other recommendations that NGOs should collaborate with government and private sector organizations to address funding and infrastructure deficiencies.