NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS AS AGENTS OF POVERTY ERADICATION: THE CASE OF LAPO IN NIGER-DELTA COMMUNITIES OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The research work examined the contribution of NGOs, as agents of poverty eradication with lift above poverty organization (LAPO) in the Niger Delta basin of Nigeria on focus. Five LAPO branches located in five communities out of a population of thirteen branches in similar communities were studied. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Thirty two (32) LAPO staff manning the five branches as well as seventy (70) client (the poor) were the respondents. Descriptive statistics were mainly employed for data analysis and it included percentages, Likert –scale measures, means and chi-square (x2) statistic. Results showed that LAPO services were inclined to poverty eradication and indeed focused on the right target; the poor, within the communities covered. LAPO services were as well accessed by the poor and that it fairly met industrial standards in terms of depth of outreach. There were challenges though in the delivering of LAPO services and it centred on the remoteness of the clients domain, poor infrastructure such as roads and associated high cost of reaching them; low savings mobilization from clients; high interest from loans; and the smallness of loan sizes. Increased capacity building activities of LAPO to the afflicted credit-groups; re examining of its leverage gap between interest on savings and credit; and the re-assessment of its repeat loan regime, so as to achieve meaningful progression in sizes, were some of the strengthening measures suggested.