AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE AND CHALLENGES OF NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Chapter two

Literature review

Conceptual Review

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

An organization is a collection of people working in a coordinated manner to achieve a common purpose. There are many types of organizations, which may be classified as either for-profit or not-for-profit (non- profit), large or small.

Non-Governmental organizations are organizations that operate across national boundaries, that have a membership composed of private individuals, and that do not answer to any government. In essence, NGOs are organized interest groups that operate single or in combination with one another to promote their causes. Globally, there are well known NGOs such as Amnesty International, Green Peace, Red cross, save the children, CARE and Oxfarm. There are also Community Based Organizations (CBO), City wide Organizations and National NGOs.

Rural Development

Development is a widely participatory process of directed social change in a society, intended to bring about both social and material advancement (including greater equality, freedom and other valued qualities) for the majority of the people through their gaining greater control over their environment. Hence, development is a constant process of transformation. It is a dynamic concept denoting a state of ceaseless change.

Rural Development is the improvement of the living standards of the low-income population living in rural areas on a self-sustaining basis, through transforming the socio-spatial structures of their productive activities. In essence, rural development implies a broad based reorganization and mobilization of the rural masses so as to enhance their capacity to cope effectively with the daily tasks of their lives and with changes consequent upon this.

Problems of Rural Development in Nigeria

According to Adeyemo (2003:134), development is a broad term which indicates improvement and this improvement may be perceived from income, state of health, human reasoning, physical and social as different from the former state. Any human society is not static but dynamic in terms of the ways of life and adopted technologies. However, the rates of development differ from one society to another and from generation to generation.

Similarly, development may simply be understood as the unending improvement in the capacity of groups of individuals and societies to control and manipulate the forces of nature as well as themselves (and where necessary, other individuals and societies for their own material benefit and ultimately for the benefit of humanity at large. It is the process of actualizing man’s inherent capacity to live a better and more fulfilling life. (Girigiri, 2000:111)

With the meaning of development clarified, one can now move on to examine what rural development means. World Bank (1975), asserts that rural development is concerned with the modernization and monetization of rural society, and with its transition from its traditional isolation to integration with the national economy. Todaro (1977:249), asserts that rural development encompasses:

Improvement in levels of living, including income, employment, education, health and nutrition, housing and a variety of social services;

Decreasing inequality in the distribution of rural incomes and in urban-rural imbalances in incomes and economic opportunities; and

The capacity of the rural sector to sustain and accelerate the pace of these improvement.

Akpakpan (1992:4), opined that rural development is the retransformation of rural areas of the society;

i.e. the transformation of the economic, social, and political structures, institutions, relationships, and processes in the rural areas which have hindered productivity, social consciousness, and political participation in the past, and must involve measures and actions that will bring about such transformation- measures and actions that will generate economic opportunities (e.g. jobs and incomes) and improve literacy, health, housing, real output of goods and services, techniques of production, and social and political consciousness in the rural areas of the society.

Rural development is a specific context of the development process. It is usually a directed and aided process. Rural development is an embodiment of the mechanisms and processes by which change to an improved level of economic and social life is brought to rural inhabitants. It is the process of bringing improved level of living to the rural population.

According to Olatunbosun (1975:147), Nigeria’s approach to rural development has largely taken the form of agricultural development. The country has not had a co-ordinated programme of rural development. It had taken a unilateral conception of rural development, the aim of which is essentially that of modernizing agriculture. In sum, Nigeria’s efforts in rural development through agricultural programmes had failed to achieve their objectives. They have been capitalist and export-oriented. Consequently, Peasant agriculture has largely been neglected and the Peasantry marginalized in agricultural policies and programmes.

Successive governments have created rural development programmes and some of the rural development programmes include:

-Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) programme of May, 1976. Under the leadership of Lt General Olusegun Obasanjo;

-The River Basin and Rural Development Authorities (RBRDA) of 1973;

-Directorate of food, Road and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) of 1986;

-Better Life for Rural Women (BLRW);

-The family Support Programme (FSP);

-Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP); and

-National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

In 1995, Olatunbosun in his study titled Nigeria’s neglected rural majority, asserted that Nigeria had never had a co-ordinated programme for rural development. He recommended a multi-dimensional approach to rural development. He contended that “in order to improve the quality of life of the neglected rural majority in Nigeria, Programmes of agricultural production; health care delivery; investment in rural non-farm activities; nutrition; education training-both formal and non-formal; rural electrification; co-operatives; water supply; rural credit; entertainment; and road construction should be planned and implemented in an integrated manner, with consideration for projects that mutually support and inter-lock with one another in an overall rural development plan” (Olatunbosun, 1995:157).

Since after the colonial era, the rural sector in Nigeria has remained backward. The dispositions of the political leaders of the country towards this sector have largely been that of neglect. In spite of the stability in the national economy in the 1960’s and the Oil boom of the early 1970’s, the living conditions of the people in the rural sector of Nigeria have remained basically unaffected by development efforts. This situation has left Nigerian rural dwellers with diverse problems. Some of these problems as highlighted by the Better Life programme for Rural Women in 1988 quoted in Girigiri (2000:124) include lack of portable water; Health Care problem; transport problems; lack of storage and preservation facilities; Educational problem; inaccessibility to loan and credit facilities; poor return on subsistence farming; the problem of unemployment; Environmental degradation; Vagaries in Weather condition; Communal Conflict; and general poverty.

Non-Governmental Organizations: A General Overview

Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) are civil organizations that are largely or totally independent of government and which function as charitable or religious associations, mobilize private funds for development initiatives and programmes, raise awareness and influence policies in pursuance of the ideals of democracy and good governance as well as undertake diverse humanitarian projects that could better the lots of the grass-roots (Sandberg, 1994; Chalmer, 2002).

Iriye (2004) defines Non-Governmental Organizations as a voluntary, non-state, non-profit, non- religious, and non-military associations. It is an independent voluntary association of people acting together on a continuous basis for some common purpose other than achieving government office, making money or illegal activities. In his view, two main types of Non-Governmental Organizations are recognized according to the activities they pursue: (i) operational NGOs that deliver services; and (ii) Campaigning NGOs.

A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any form of government. The term originated from the United Nations (UN) in 1945 and is normally used to refer to organizations that are not a part of a government and are not conventional profit businesses. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status by excluding government representatives from its membership.

Michael and David (1992), see non-governmental organizations as an organization that is not part of a government and was not founded by states. They maintained that NGOs are typically independent of government. The term is usually restricted to social, cultural, legal and environmental advocacy groups having goals that are non-commercial. They are usually non-profit organizations that gain at least a portion of their funding from private services. The World Bank (1990), sees Non-governmental organizations as private agencies; indigenous groups organized regionally or nationally and member groups in villages that support international and national development and partnering with governments in global development initiatives.

Non-Governmental organizations are classified by orientation and/or level of co-operation. NGOs by orientation include charitable orientation, service orientation, participatory, professional association, and empowering orientation. While NGO type by level of co-operation comprises of community-based organization, city wide organization, national NGO, and international non-governmental organizations.

The structure of NGOs remains the same even if their operations vary. The structures of NGOs are discussed under the following headings:

Methods: NGOs vary in their methods. Some act primarily as lobbyist while others conduct programmes and activities.

Staffing: Some NGOs are highly professionalized and rely mainly on paid staff. Others are based around voluntary labour and are less formalized.

Funding:The sources of funds available to an NGO determines its budget. The major sources of NGO funding are membership dues, grants from international institutions or national grants, and private donors.

Project management:Generally, non-governmental organizations have either a community or environmental focus. They mobiles public support and maintain strong link with community groups in developing centres.

Public relations: Foundations and charities use good measures of public relations to raise funds. They also employ standard lobbying techniques with governments.

Consulting: Most NGOs have a consultative status with United Nations Agencies relevant to their areas of work.

The vital role of NGOs and other major groups in sustainable development was recognized in chapter 27 of Agenda 21, leading to intense arrangements for a consultative relationship between the United Nation and non-governmental organizations.

Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Rural Development in Nigeria

Non-Governmental Organizations have played tremendous roles in rural development in Nigeria. Some of such roles include the following:

-Human Capital Development and technical assistance. They embark on the training of people in the area of skills acquisition. They also award scholarship to deserving students to study both at home and abroad. They render technical assistance to both Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and governments.

-Development of small scale farmers. They give support and assistance to small scale farmers by providing them with loans/grants. They also provide them with improved seedlings and technical advice that facilitate their growth and development.

-Research, monitoring and evaluation. They conduct research on very sensitive issues with a view to making recommendation on how to improve such situation. They also carry out the responsibility of effective monitoring and evaluation of projects.

-Enlightenment campaigns. They carry out enlightenment campaigns and sensitization programmes. Such campaigns create awareness and educate people on government policies and programmes.

-Advocacy for the poor. Advocacy NGOs shoulder the responsibility of defending the poor and promoting specific causes. In most cases, NGOs become spokespersons for the poor and attempt to influence government policies and programmes on their behalf.

-Conflict resolution and peace building. Non-governmental organizations have emerged as an indispensable partner in conflict resolution and peace building. They have complemented the efforts of governments and other stakeholders in reconciliation and peace building.

In the words of Konteh (1999), the potential strength of non-governmental organizations as an effective check to state power and dynamic agents of grassroots empowerment and development has been recognized by successive governments since independence. NGOs will continue to play a leading role in the promotion of good government, poverty alleviation, education, health, infrastructural development, promotion and defense of human rights, peace building and conflict prevention.

Challenges of Non-Governmental Organizations in Nigeria

Some of the challenges of non-governmental organizations in Nigeria include the following:

Financial constraint. Their financial resources is made up almost exclusively of dues/contributions paid by members. Most at times, these dues and contributions are not paid regularly by members which affects their growth and also prevents them from performing their legitimate roles effectively.

Leadership. Non-Governmental Organizations in Nigeria lack efficient leadership. They are characterized by illiterate and inexperienced leaders who lack requisite knowledge and managerial ability to pilot their affairs.

Corruption. There is large-scale misappropriation, embezzlement of funds (gifts and dues) and other unprogressive activities. The prevalence of widespread corruption limits their scope of activities and impede their growth.

Tribalism, ethnicity and nepotism. Nigeria is an heterogeneous society and as a mater of fact, tribalism, ethnicity and nepotism are canker-worms that have eaten deep into the social fabric of the society. This problem has adversely affected the performance of non-governmental organizations in Nigeria.

Insecurity. There is high-level and widespread insecurity in the country that has led to the wanton destruction of lives and property is also a major factor that has hampered the progress of non- governmental organizations.

2.2 EMPIRICAL REVIEW

Non-Governmental and Non-profit multinational organizations have a relatively long history of operations in Nigeria. However, the involvement of these organizations in poverty alleviation in Nigeria has a relatively, short history for although Nigeria has traditionally been an underdeveloped country, it is only of recent that poverty as a phenomenon became topical in our national discourse.

The frequency with which poverty alleviation is discussed these days is largely borne out of the fact that Nigeria in the last two decades of the recently concluded century witnessed a serious economic downturn which manifested in increasing rate of mass-pauperizations. Between 1980 and 1996, the percentage of the poor in Nigeria witnessed a sharp increase from 28.1% to 65.6% as the following table shows.

Since 1996 when these statistics were compiled, the situation rather than improve, has got even worse. For example the year 2000 World Bank Atlas ranks Nigeria as the 12th poorest country in the world. The 1998 edition of the same publication had ranked the country 2lst on scale of poverty. This implies that within two years Nigeria was

―promoted‖ from the 21st to the 12th poorest country in the world. This development is alarming considering the fact that Nigeria is the sixth largest producer of oil in the world. This raises the question of what makes Nigeria so poor in the midst of plenty, a question that shall be tackled in another chapter of the project. Suffice it to sat that growing poverty in Nigeria has many unsavoury consequences some of which include hunger, malnutrition, dilapidated infrastructure, poor health services and high unemployment. Today poverty is written all over the face of most Nigerians, a situation that threatens the very fabric of the nation. It is in realization of the dangers posed by poverty in Nigeria that some non-governmental and non- profit organizations emerged to tackle poverty in the country. In this chapter we shall examine a handful of them.

2.3 THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX- GOING BEYOND INCOME

Each year since 1990 the Human Development Report has published the human development index (HDI) which looks beyond GDP to a broader definition of well- being.

The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income). The index is not in any sense a comprehensive measure of human development, It does not, for example, include important indicators such as gender or income inequality nor more difficult to measure concepts like respect for human rights and political freedoms. What it does provide is a broadened prism for viewing human progress and the complex relationship between income and well-being.

Of the components of the HDI, only income and gross enrolment are somewhat responsive to short term policy changes. For that reason, it is important to examine changes in the human development index over time. The human development index trends tell an important story in that respect. Between 1990 and 2007 Nigeria’s HDI rose by 0.91% annually from 0.438 to 0.511 today.

Humanpoverty: focusing on the most deprived in multiple dimensions of poverty

The HDI measures the average progress of a country in human development. The Human Poverty Index (HPI-1),

focuses on the proportion of people below certain threshold levels in each of the dimensions of the human development index-living a long and healthy life, having access to education, and a decent standard of living. By looking beyond income deprivation, the H P1-I represents a multi- dimensional alternative to the $1.25 a day (PPP US$) poverty measure.

The HPI-1 value of 36.2% for Nigeria, ranks 114th among 35 countries for which the index has been calculated.

The HPI-1 measures severe deprivation in health by the proportion of people who are not expected to survive to age

40. Education is measured by the adult illiteracy rate. And a decent standard of living is measured by the unweighted average of people not using an improved water source and the proportion of children under age 5 who are underweight for heir age.

2.4 GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TOWARDS POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Programmes such as National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Primary Health Care (PHC), Directorate for Road and Rural Infrastructure (DFFRI), Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Micro! Macro credit deliveries etc. were established after 1986 in various sectors of the economy (Nnebe, 2006:191).

Despite the plethora of poverty alleviation programmes which past government had initiated and implemented, by 1999 when the Obasanjo administration came to power, a World Bank’s report indicated that Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI) was only 0.416 and that about 70 percent of the population was vegetating below the bread line (nigeriafirst.org.2003:14- 25). This alarming indicator

prompted the government to review the existing poverty alleviation schemes with a view to harmonizing them and improving of them.

In this regard, three presidential panels were set up. They were the presidential panel on the Rationalization and Harmonization of Poverty Alleviation and Agencies headed by. Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Presidential Technical Committee on, the Review of all Poverty Alleviation Programes headed by professor Ango Abdullahi and Committee on Youth Policy, Concept of the Youth’ Empowerment Scheme and the Blueprint for Poverty Eradication Programme headed by professor A.B. Aborishade.

The findings and recommendations of these presidential Panels coalesced in the formation of the National Poverty Alleviation Programme (NAPEP) in January 2001. (Nigeria First Org 2003) this new scheme was structured to integrate the following sectoral schemes.

The Youth Employment Scheme (YES) which is concerned with providing unemployed youth opportunities in skill acquisition, employment and wealth generation. To achieve this, the scheme has been further subdivided into Capital Acquisition Programme (CAP), Mandatory Attachment Programme (MAP) and Credit Delivery Programme (CDP).

The Rural Infrastructure Development Scheme (RIDS). The objective of this scheme is to ensure the provision and

development of infrastructure needs in the areas of transport, energy water and communication especially in Rural Transport Programme Social Welfare Scheme (SOWESS) which aims of ensuring the provision of basic social services including quality primary and special education, strengthening the economic power of farmers, providing primary health care, and so on. This third scheme consists of four broad subcategories which are, the Qualitative Education Programme, Primary Health Care Programmes, Farmers Empowerment Programme and Social Services Programme.

The Resources Development and Conservation Scheme (RDCS)

The vision of this scheme is to bring about a participatory and sustainable development of agriculture, mineral and water recourse through the following subdivision; Agricultural Resources Programme, Water Resources Programme, Solid Minerals Resource Programme, and Environment Protection Programme. (Nigeria First.Org 2006).

With the ambition to wipe to poverty in Nigeria by 2010. National Eradication Programme adopted three main stages to help achieve their desired tart.

The first stage is the restoration of hope in the mass of poor people particularly in the rural areas.

The second stage is the restoration of economic independence and confidence.

The final stage is wealth creation (nigeriafirst.org 2003) In 2004, the Federal Government introduced the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) which identifies five priority actions areas among

which are:

(i) Wealth creation

(ii) Employment generation

(iii) Poverty alleviation

(iv) Corruption elimination

(v) General value re-orientation.

To actualize this, the programme is extended is extended to the states and communities and villages levels under the following captions. Seeds-State Economic Empowerment which is a community driven development strategy designed by economic Growth and Development Centre, adopted by NAPEP to guide economic development. (NAPEP Facts sheet)

It is a bottom-up approach to community development where village organize themselves for community development, with Government providing technical expertise and analyzing environment.

Among the stake holders are the village’s community, private investors, I NGOs, Federal, State and Local

Government. The VEDS-as a scheme is geared towards reducing the intergenerational poverty. (NAPEP facts sheet)

The Quick National Employment Generation Survey (QNEGS) carried out in June, 2006 demonstrated the present administration’s commitment towards ensuring that the well articulated economic reform programme, as outline in the NEEDS document, yields the desired results. It also reflected the government recognition of the roles of monitoring and evaluation in successful implementation of planned programmes and project (Akinyosoye 2006).

NGOs and Rural Development in Nigeria

a.NGOs and Environmental Protection, Human Rights, Reconciliation and Peace

NGOs have remarkably done well in the areas of environmental human rights protection; reconciliation and peace in Nigeria. For instance, Environmental Right Action (ERA) and Friends of the Earth International (FEI), is impacting very much in the environment of the Niger Delta Region through her campaign in the following areas: reducing greenhouse-gas emission, reducing oil spillage, improving oil exploitation technologies, environmental education and awareness, ensuring environmental law enforcement and conservation of nature. ERAand FEI embarkedon multidisciplinary programmesthat encourage technology innovation,safety compliance, pollutionprevention, community outreach, conservation, advocacy and training (Ajaero, 2005).

Nigerian Conservation Foundations (NCF) works closely with oil multinational such as Chevron, Shell to ensure environmental safety in host communities. NCF activities aides Chevrons wildlife and preservation programme and has protected threatened species in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria (Chevron, 2005). In terms of peace, Niger Delta Peace Foundation (NDPF) is dedicated to reconciliation and development of the Niger Delta region. NDPF had over the years negotiated between the Ogoni people in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government of Nigeria and oil multinationals. In 2005, several efforts were made by NDPF to bring Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the Ogoni people and the Federal Government to dialogue as to reach lasting solution to their face-off, which emanated from SPDC exploitation of crude oil in the region (Ebahor, 20050).

On child/human rights, Ray of Hope Foundation (RHF) is a notable NGO that had achieved tremendously in this regard. RHF in many instances, called for the implementation of the Child’s Rights Act, which was signed into law by the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003. The RHF also embarked on back-to-school programme for street children. So far, hundreds of street children have benefited from the programme, and the organization is still making effort to place an average of 35 percent of street children in various schools in Lagos State (Scokunbi, 2006).

b.NGOs and Health Provision

Health is wealth, and health is one way NGOs are creating wealth in Nigeria. The scourge of HIV/AIDS in the country propelled NGOs’ activities in the areas of prevention and enlightenment programmes. UNAIDS in collaboration with NGOs across African including Nigeria, embarked on a programme called - World AIDS Campaign with Young People (UNAIDS, 1999). The programme placed the issue of HIV/AIDS among young people on national and international agendas, and has brought significant attention to the force for change that young represent in reversing the course of the epidemic especially in rural areas. It raised the profile of young people in the discussions about HIV/AIDS, and increased their participation in events, programmes and decision-making bodies (Pilot, 1999).

NGOs are also involved in the protection of rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. About 200 NGOs were involved in such operations in 1997. Human right NGOs have been at the forefront of setting standards for human rights and of promoting and protecting those rights. The role and tasks of the United Nations in the field of human rights is greatly enhanced by the generous input of NGOs. In 1997, NGOs in collaboration with the United Nations Human Right Committee (UNHRC) addressed issues such as non-discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, protection of families of infected persons, right of those living with HIV/AIDS to participation in political and public life at national and international levels, right to privacy among others (UNAIDS, 1997).

In Cross River State, Civil Society on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN) partnered with the state government on the campaign against the spray of HIV/AIDS. In this regards, CISHAN has since 2003 recorded significant milestone in the State. It activities include among others advocating for treatment centres, mapping and validation strategic framework (MVSF) on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (Uneze, 2005).

A recent declaration by World Health Organization (WHO) that more than 5 million were suffering from diabetes informed United Kingdom based NGO, Saint Patrick Diabetic Association (SPDA) to establish a diabetes counseling office in Nigeria. SPDA is also creating public awareness on dietary disorder, which is a silent killer if left unattained. SPDA established a mobile clinic deployed to service rural areas in Nigeria (Odittah, 2005).

c. NGOs and Educational Development

Education remains the most vital tool for rural transformation in Nigeria; surprisingly there were very few schools in Nigeria especially in rural areas that can genuinely claim to have adequate school physical facilities for teaching and learning (Akomolafe, 2001; Ofoegbu, 2001). Scholarship are not adequate, many student drop out of school because of finance. This is an indication that government alone cannot adequately fund education (Sowunimi, 2004). This precarious situation of the education system especially in rural communities, informed the intervention of NGOs. In response to this, Courage Education Foundation (CEF) gave scholarship to children whose parent cannot afford basic primary education in Nigeria. In Gbagada, Lagos State CEF awarded Scholarship to 12 children whose parents cannot afford basic primary education. CEF scholarship is open to all members of the public especially rural dwellers who are less privileged (Kamanu, 2004).

Girls Power Initiative (GPI) is anotherNGO that istransforming the Nigerian educational system. GPI established librariesin the South-Southand South-East Geographical Zones. These libraries provides services to adolescent girls especially the less privileged. GPI also run counseling units throughout these zones for adolescent girls. Between July 1999 and March 2006, GPI graduated hundreds of adolescent girls in her schools. Most of their graduates were trained on how to read and write, health, humanities and different skills for easy employment (Ikpi, 1999; Utak, 2003).

International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH) in partnership with Chevron Nigeria Limited provided basic education for primary school children, adult literacy classes, and training for primary school teachers. Specifically their objective include - training approximately 1,000 youths for self-employment, provision of basic education for primary school children, adult literacy classes as well as the provision of basic business skills and small business credit access (ChevronTexaco, 2003).

d. NGOs and Economic Development

The philosophy of economic transformation, wealth and job creation dominate the activities of most NGOs the world over. This involves around the economic principle that poverty can effectively be eradicated if people are economically buoyant. According to Chevron (2003), acute unemployment is a fact of life in remote communities in Delta State, Nigeria. Consequently, Chevron in partnership with IFESH created technical skill acquisition centre in Warri, Delta State. The centre at provided community youths with self-sustaining job, and skills; the project offers a full year training in metal work, computer processing and office support in preparation for starting a business or finding a job.

NGOs interventions in job creation and economic transformation of rural and urban communities had alleviated the suffering of some rural dwellers in Imo State, Nigeria. Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NNNGO) programme on economic and social empowerment of rural communities established poultry farms and trained women for self-employment. Similarly, Ohonyeta Care Group otherwise known as solution NGO gave out micro-credit facilities to rural dweller to aid people start business and reduce the scourge of poverty in Nigeria (Kanu, 2003).

Lift AbovePoverty Organization (LAPO) in Udi Aken Community bought and commissioned cassava-processing machinesin 1996. LAPO also promoted self-employment in small income-generating activities through micro-credits facilities with the belief is that, credit is a vital and potent weapon for fighting poverty in rural areas. LAPO credit facilities were given to income generating activities such as petty trading, tailoring, food processing, and farming. The loan has very low interest rate and guaranteed by other members of the group (Chiazor, 2002).

In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Community Partners for Development (CPD) building partnership at various levels in collaborative efforts to provide a more integrated form of intervention for development in its operational communities. Specifically CPD objectives

include among others to - strengthen organizational capacity of partner groups, increase access to credit and income generating opportunities for members of rural communities, ensure the empowerment of women, provide services and information dissemination on

issues that enhances the development of society, enhance individual sources of livelihood as well as ensure financial sustainability of community development projects (CPD, 2005). Since its establishment in 1997, CPD had embarked on a number of projects ranging from micro credit scheme, integrated rural healthcare, enlightenment and youth programmes, as well as gender issues. CPD organizes integrated micro project for the poorest in Akwa Ibom State. CPD uses economic empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes to address the issue of poverty in rural communities in Akwa Ibom State. Its credit scheme is built out of the existing traditional saving and loans system (Osusu). This loan aimed at providing andenhancing individual sourceof livelihood, aswell as harnessesthe efforts of communities and affords them alternative income generating source (CPD, 2005). Also, the establishment and licensing of micro finance institutions such as the micro finance banks in both urban and rural communities help to reduce the impact of poverty on the rural communitythrough the provisionof soft loansto finance smallscale industries thus encouraging skill acquisitions and job creation for the ever increasing number of unemployed graduates.

Theoretical Consideration

This study adopted Kenneth Kaunda’s Humanism theory. The theory emanated from the works of Kenneth Kauda a onetime President of Zambia. Kaunda a humanism ideology came out of his keen interest in promoting the welfare of the people of the Zambia. He held that, Africa society was progressive and human; that the present generation of Africans must bear this in mind in all their political, economic, social and cultural activities. Kaunda held that, whatever changes that take place in the society, whatever sacrifices that are made by government, it agencies and other organizations (including NGOs), in the task of fighting to preserve the man-centered society, the government and other organizations must remember that it is “people above ideology and man above institutions”. They should promote activities that placed man at the centre of all human activity (Damachi, 1976).

Humanism according to Kaunda is egalitarianism. It stipulates that certain things in life should not be rationed by money or power. He argued that things like education, health service, other socio-economic and political variables should not go to the highest bidder, but that all people have a moral right to equal opportunities (Kaunda, 1967).

From Kaunda’s theory, development especially “rural development” is seen from the human angel; where institutions such as education, agriculture, health, economic, politic, social including NGOs are established to better the lot of the people. Development is a holistic activity, which must reach the rural as well as urban dwellers. Thus any development that does not reach the common man especially those in rural areas, that does not encourage equitable distribution of goods and services, that does not promote the general well-being of the people cannot be regarded as development. NGOs are such bodies that provide services to the generality of the people of Africa at little or no cost. NGOs render service to the public especially the poor of the earth who are dominant in rural areas at no cost. They ensure the equitable distribution of goods and services, and serve as the voice of the hopeless. In the ideas of Kaunda, NGOs are human centered and thus places man’s welfare at the centre of its activities.