THE EFFECT OF NATIONAL SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMS AGENCY ON POVERTY REDUCTION IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the Effect of the National Social Investment Programs
Agency on Poverty Reduction in South East Nigeria from 2015 - 2023. Specifically, the study
is designed to examine the effect of the N-power program on job creation in Southeast East
Nigeria, ascertain the effect of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment program in
enhancing small-scale business in Southeast East Nigeria, determine the effect of conditional
cash transfer in addressing income inequality in south East Nigeria. The study was carried out
in five randomly selected major cities in South East Nigeria (Enugu, Umuahia, Abakaliki,
Anambra, and Owerri). The study employed survey research method. The population for the
study comprised eight hundred and seventy-six (2876) residents in the five selected major cities
in South East Nigeria, while three hundred and fifty-one (351) respondents were sampled using
Taro Yamane sampling techniques. A questionnaire designed by the researcher served as the
instrument for data collection. The data collected were analysed using simple percentages while
the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using chi-square. The findings of the
study revealed that the National Social Investment Program has a positive significant effect in
enhancing the standard of living in South East Nigeria; the National Social Investment Program
has a positive significant effect in creating job opportunities in South East Nigeria. Based on
the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made: national social
investment agency should develop programs that are tailored to the specific needs and
challenges of South East Nigeria, which will help address the succession agitation in the area;
local communities should be actively engaged in planning and implementation of social
investment programs; national social investment program should focus in investing in
education and vocational training programs to equip individuals with the skill needed for
gainful employment.