The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) organized a Zonal Consultative Forum at Ado Ekiti on 21st July 2003 as part of its Poverty Eradication Programme in Nigeria. The Forum was attended by DFID representative in Ekiti State, academics, labour and civil society organizations working on poverty issues in the zone. The CDD commissioned research on the zone was presented and discussed at the Forum.

The Participants observed that:

• Poverty in Nigeria is deep, widespread and multifaceted, and needs a more nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding it.

• It is ironical that Nigeria, the sixth largest exporter of oil in the world and one of the richest 50 countries in the early 1970s has retrogressed to become one of the 20 poorest countries in the world today.

• Poverty at its root is bred by unequal power relations, the structural and systematic allocation of resources among different groups in society and their differential access to power and the political process. Poverty arises from lack of choice and capability by people to take full part in activities in human society as a result of social exclusion.

• Poverty is not a natural condition. It is created by societies, governments, uncaring international community, unchecked theft and waste of community resources, corruption and mismanagement.

• The incidence of poverty has increased phenomenally in Nigeria from 28.1% in 1980 to about 70% today. The factors that have exacerbated the poverty situation in Nigeria include among other things political instability, lack of accountability, mismanagement and corruption, anti-poor economic policies and lack of involvement of the poor in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation.

• There are more poor women than men. There are many reasons responsible for this among which are exclusion of women from productive work and decision-making, patriarchal nature of our society and lack of access to opportunities.

• The communities purposively selected for the study in the zone included Alabata village and Ojoo both in Akinyele local government area of Oyo State; Sangotedo community in Aja local government area of Lagos State, Akiode community in Ikeja local government of Lagos State; and Iloro and Ijero Ekiti both in Ijero local government area of Ekiti State.

• The Communities studied and the participants at the Forum defined poverty in relation to absence of basic necessities of life such as clothing, food and shelter, and inability to send one's children to school or meet up with social engagement and responsibilities.

• The communities attributed the causes of poverty to government inadequacies, poor implementation of poverty alleviation programmes, lack of family assistance, family curses, self inflicted problems, unemployment, lack of agricultural inputs, lack of facilities for preservation and processing of agricultural products etc.

 

The participants recommended that:

• Good public policy is at the core of any attempt to eradicate or reduce poverty.

• The poor are the true poverty experts and should be involved in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of poverty policies and programmes.

• Governments should implement policies that are pro-poor in all sectors particularly in agriculture, education and health.

• Poverty reduction is only possible in the context of empowerment of the poor and promotion of good governance, transparency and accountability.

• Poverty can be reduced through formal and informal acquisition of skills by individuals, community self help activities, co-operative societies, creation of job opportunities and provision of basic social services and infrastructure by government.

• There is a great need for public enlightenment on a variety of issues including social values, maintenance culture, appropriate agricultural techniques and implements etc.

• Government should utilize the in-depth knowledge and expertise of Nigerians to promote sustainable development in the country. This will prevent the paradox in places like Ekiti State where there is a high literacy rate yet the level of poverty is also very high.

• Government and Civil society organizations should intensify efforts on micro credit schemes and assistance to farmers.

Mr. Otive Igbuzor Programme Coordinator, CDD	Dr. Bola Akanji Zonal Research Leader
Mr. Demola Adeagbo Principal Investigator