Sustainability of Rural Socio-Economic Development Programmes and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria: a Study of Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency (EB-CSDA) in Izzi Clan.

Abstract

The dynamic, complex and multi-dimensional nature of poverty makes it one of the most current problems that are negatively affecting the globe. This study investigated the high level socio-economic poverty ravaging Izzi clan of Ebonyi State Nigeria. Specifically, the study sort to find out why there is high incidence of poverty in Izzi despite government and individual efforts over the years. The study adopted the Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT) by Prahat Ranjan Sarkar in 1959, and the Socio-Political and Economic Theory as propounded by Adam Smith in 1776 as its frameworks of analysis. Some randomly selected Izzi people, particularly from the villages were interviewed to elicit relevant information and data for the study. We discovered that over reliance on persistent farming, lack of helping hands from the haves, lack of family planning and non-exposure to early formal education, were among the major causes of unending poverty among Izzi people. The study therefore recommended for the enabling legislation to check the ever-increasing population without a corresponding means of livelihood, aggressive rural electrification and provision of portable water, provision of micro-credit loan scheme to the rural poor and proper sensitization of the rural communities on the activities EB-CSDA. The implication is that if proactive measures are not taken urgently by the government and the people, many bread winners in Izzi clan are likely to commit suicide.