Framework for it-based empowerment and poverty reduction in Nigeria

Abstract

Income generation, employment and increased productivity are major stepping-stones on the path out of poverty for rural dwellers. These rural dwellers face tremendous challenges to improving their income, generating employment opportunities and improving their productivity. Lack of the needed information has contributed to this poor status. The work identifies four information technologies (IT) based modules of significance in reducing poverty in Nigeria. These include data capture towards priotization of needy areas and well response targetted, Government/Non-Government poverty reduction initiative, IT-based empowerment initiative, and Job oppurtunities/Needed skills information flow. These areas are recommended for immediate use and they offer new approaches that could synergize with each other and with other activities to transform the lives of the rural dwellers for better.

Keywords: Information technology, poverty reduction, income generation, rural dwellers, Nigeria

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(2): 161-165, 2010