Achieving Sustainable Poverty Reduction and Rural Development in Nigeria through Local Economic Development Strategies

Iwala Oladapo Sam^1,

¹Department of Agricultural Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, P.M.B, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Iwala Oladapo Sam. Achieving Sustainable Poverty Reduction and Rural Development in Nigeria through Local Economic Development Strategies. American Journal of Rural Development. 2014; 2(1):13-19. doi: 10.12691/ajrd-2-1-3

Abstract

All around the world, local governments, the private sector and even the civil society are exploring better ways to achieve poverty reduction and rural development through local economic development strategies, the corner stone of sustainable national development. This is sequel to the fact that local governments, particularly in Nigeria face increased challenges of poor qualitative leadership, financial indiscipline, almost absolute reliance on allocation from the federated account / low internally generated revenues, pervasive poverty, income inequality, long-term ethnic conflict and civil unrest, political instability and corruption among others. Meanwhile, massive transformations are taking place in the global economy resulting from trade liberalization, privatization and enhanced telecommunications. The significance of this paradox to Nigeria is that citizens and local governments now face formidable challenges, greater opportunity and growing responsibility to work together to address the dehumanizing socio-economic conditions of their local citizens, most of whom are under employed or out rightly unemployed and living in absolute poverty. This paper postulates local economic development strategies, a participating process in which local people from all sectors work together to help create decent jobs and improve the quality of life for everyone, including the poor and marginalized as the most potent tool for achieving sustainable poverty reduction and rural transformation in Nigeria.

Keywords:
poverty reduction rural development local economic development sustainable development

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Adedoyin, S. Fola. 2003: The Nigerian Child and the National Plan for Decent Livelihood In : the 6th Annual Research Network Meeting and Conference of Children – In – Agriculture Programme (CIAP), Lagos, Nigeria, pp. 1-8.
[2]	Adewunmi, A.I. 1999: Mobilising Rural Children and Youth for Development of Agriculture and the Rural Sector. In: Farm Children and Agricultural Productivity in the 21st Century (Eds: S. B. Williams, F. E. Ogbimi and A. J. Farinde, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife Nigeria. Pp. 14-21.
[3]	Adisa, B.O and E.O. Okunade. 2005: Women In Agriculture and Rural Development. In: Agricultural Extension in Nigeria. (ed. Adedoyin, S. Fola).
[4]	Akinlo, A.E. Poverty: Global Trends and Challenges. In Research and Policy Directions on Poverty in Nigeria 2001. Afonja et al ed. Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies, OAU, Ile-Ife
[5]	Bealer, Robert C., Fern K. Willits and Williams P. Kuvlesky. 1965:“Rurality” in American Society: Some Implications of Alternative Definitions. Rural Sociology 30: 255-266.
[6]	Boekel Van, Geart; Logtestijn Van, Marjon, 2002. Applying the Comprehensive LED Approach – The case of Mozambique ILO. Geneva.
[7]	City of York: 1995. Our Economy, our Future: Final Report. York, Ontario: Local Area Economic Development Advisory Committee.
[8]	Coombs, W.W. and M. Ahmed. 1974: How Non – Formal Education can help. Baltimore and London. The Johns Hopkin University Press. Pp. 13-34.
[9]	Cornell, Stephen and Kalt, Joseph 1995. What can tribes do? Strategies and Institutions in American Indian Economic Development. Los Angeles: University of California.
[10]	Development Planning Unit, - University College London; UN-HABITAT; Department for International Development. 2001. Implementing the Habitat Agenda: In search of Urban Sustainability. London http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu; http://www. unhabita.org
[11]	Di Meglio, Roberto; A Lazarte; Gasser, Martin; Salzano, Carmela 2003. Local Economic Development in Post-Crisis Situations – Operational Guide, January; ILO Geneva.
[12]	Djankov, S.R. La Porta, F.L. de Silanes, A. Shleifer. 2002. “The Regulation of Entry”. Quarterly Journal of Economics, U 7, 1-37, February.
[13]	Ennew, R. 2007. Street and Working Children: A Guide to Planning, London: Save the Children.
[14]	Frischtak, Leila. 1994. Governance Capacity and Economic Reform in Developing Countries. World Bank Technical Paper 254. Washington, DC: World Bank.
[15]	Georgia Basin Initiative, Ministry of Municipal Affairs et al. 1995. Navigating for Sustainability: A Guide for Local Government Decision Makers. British Columbia.
[16]	International Labour Organization. 1995. “All Women are Working Women. The Feminization of Poverty”. ILO Press Kits. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pkits/women3.htm
[17]	Jackson, C. 1996. Rescuing Gender from the Poverty Trap. In World Development: Vol. 24, No. 3. Pp 489-507. Elsevier Science Ltd. Great Britain.
[18]	Jiggins, J., Samanta, R., and Olawoye, J.B. 1997: Improving Women Farmer’s Access to Extension Services. In: Improving Agricultural Extension, FAO, and Rome.
[19]	Ladele, A. A. 2005: Rural Development Process and Practice. In: Agricultural Extension in Nigeria. (ed. Adedoyin, S. Fola)
[20]	Obadan, M. 1997: Analytical Framework for Poverty Reduction: Issues of Economic Guide Versus other Strategies. In Annual Conference of Nigerian Economic Soceity 1997. Obaseki ed. Nigeria Economic Society, Ibadan.
[21]	Premier’s Council on Economic Renewal. September, 1993 Strategic Planning Guidelines for Local and Economic Development. Ontario: Task Force on Investment in Ontario.
[22]	Sancho, A. 1996. Polices and Programmes for Social and Human Development. A Handbook Produced for the United Nations World Submit for Social Development. International Centre for Economic Growth. San Francisco.
[23]	Tatag, W. 202. Partnership for Local Economic Development (PARUL, formerly ICPEL) Experiences and Lessons for Poverty Alleviation. Cambodia.
[24]	UN-HABITAT, 2002. Building Bridges between citizens and Local Governments through Participatory Planning and Managing Conflicts and Differences. Nairobi.
[25]	World Bank. 1996. Participation Sourcebook. http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/sourcebook/sbhome.htm
[26]	World Bank. 1996 a. Nigeria. Poverty in the Midst of Plenty. The Challenge of Growth with Inclusion. Washington DC.
[27]	World Bank. 2012. Local Economic Development Quick Reference Guide, Urban Development Unit. The World Bank, Washington, DC. http:/www.worldbank.org/urban/led/led_pamphlet.pdf.
[28]	World Bank / The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2004. Doing Business in 2004. Understanding Regulati.