Environmental Management and Higher Education: Are they Closely Related?

An empirical study was conducted to determine the relationship between higher education and environmental management. Through the multi-stage sampling procedure, the representative sample of 180 respondents were selected for the study. Primary data were obtained with the aid of questionnaire. Data were subjected to univariate probit regression analysis. Results revealed a positive relationship between environmental management and higher education. Findings showed that tertiary education was significant at one percent level suggesting that people who have acquired higher education were more likely to adopt and apply environmental management practices and techniques. Findings further revealed that the variable, no formal education, was negative and significant (P<0.05) indicating that persons without formal education were less likely to imbibe environmental management measures. Supportive policies and institutions which provide access to training and information (awareness and media sensitization) that will expand the opportunities of the poor to invest in environmental improvements are required. Policies to promote sound environmental management and protect the environmental assets through higher education would be a rational decision. The poor with low education must be seen first as part of the solution rather than part of the problem

Religious Institutions and Poverty Reduction: Evidence from Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

In spite of the numerous poverty reduction policies and programs of successive administrations in Nigeria, the generality of the populace are still in a web of deprivation and hunger. It is apparent that government is unable to stem the tide of poverty and thus the need for surrogate stakeholders to lift the poor out of poverty. Therefore, an empirical study was conducted to estimate the factors influencing the willingness of religious institutions to undertake poverty reduction programs for it members and the constraints limiting their ability to initiate programs that will ameliorate the suffering of poor members in the congregation. A total of 60 churches were sampled through the multistage sampling procedure and information were elicited using questionnaire. Data were analyzed using probit model and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Result revealed that the most critical factors influencing the willingness of churches to undertake programs that will lift poor members of the congregation out of poverty were age and educational level of the church leaders, size of congregation, church income and age of the church. Result of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance indicated that there was 54 percent (moderate agreement) between the ranking of constraints associated with the willingness of churches to undertake programs that will lessen the pains of poverty among its members. Findings further showed that the top five most limiting constraints were lack of finance, lack of trained personnel, inadequate knowledge about the programs, unfavorable government policies and low membership strength

DOES ASSET OWNERSHIP REDUCE CHRONIC POVERTY?

Assets play an important role in the understanding of chronic poverty. This study was conducted in southern Nigeria to quantitatively assess the poverty level of households with respect to ownership of assets. Using the multistage sampling technique, primary data were obtained from 150 households with the aid of questionnaire. Data were subjected to analyses using the Foster Greer Thorbecke weighted poverty index and stochastic dominance analysis. Results indicate that poverty incidence, depth and severity was lower for households who own certain assets as land, houses, cars, motorcycles and sewing machines. The δ-value of the difference in the two sub-groups’ poverty incidences is significant (P < 0.01). Findings reveal that asset portfolio of majority of households was substantially low as more than 70 percent owned assets valued less than N100,000. Results of stochastic dominance analysis reveal that there was first order stochastic dominance. Result underscores the need to focus on poverty reduction policies that will increase the asset portfolio of rural households who are mostly dependent in farming for their income and food supplie

Drivers of poverty in oil producing communities of southern Nigeria

The oil-producing communities generate more than 80 percent of Nigeria earnings from crude oil. Unfortunately, the oil has not shown enough prosperity in the oil-producing communities as the standard of living of the people is worsening by the day with little attention to the provision of infrastructure. Besides, there is evidence of widespread and abject poverty among the inhabitants of the oil-producing communities. An inclusive policy to harness the potentials of such communities requires the knowledge of the factors influencing their poverty levels. This study estimated the factors influencing the poverty of inhabitants in the oil-producing communities of southern Nigeria. Using multistage sampling procedure, 120 representative households were chosen and information was obtained with the help of structured questionnaire. In order to find what determines poverty, an altered reversal model comprising 15 regressors was used in the analysis. The results revealed that most critical factors influencing poverty in the communities were dependency ratio, farm size, experience in farming, farm income, level of knowledge gained, the gateway to extended services, modern farming inputs, and having the opportunity a to health facility. Increasing the size of cultivable hectarage either through land consolidation or expansion of existing farmland and improving the educational level of inhabitants of the oil communities are rational policy decisions that could reduce poverty and improve their quality of life

Poverty and Gender Inequality in Asset Ownership among Households in Southern Nigeria

Whereas gender equality is a basic human right, and closing the gender gap is key to achieving many development objectives, development stakeholders concerned with achieving gender equality are often constrained by inadequate information to justify channeling limited resources toward closing the gender gap. This study was conducted to fill this lacuna by providing information on gender inequality in the ownership of certain assets among households. With the aid of structured questionnaire, data were obtained from 60 households using the multistage sampling technique. Results of analysis were presented using histograms. Results show considerable gender differentiation in the ownership of land, home, business and savings. The degree of gender differentiation in the ownership of consumer durables reveal that women in most households own appliances associated with domestic labour whereas men have a near monopoly in the ownership of transport vehicles, refrigerators and media sets. Result also indicates that poultry was owned by women in majority of the households. Result shows a high degree of gender disparity with respect to the share of male and female homeowners. Because access to land is crucial for the livelihoods of the rural poor, policies to ensure that women who form the bulk of the rural poor have secure access to land and other vital resources should be encouraged. Policy options that will encourage women own occupier homes should also be formulated

Land and Poverty: Some Empirical Findings Using Cross Sectional Data From Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

P overty is the most serious threat to natural resources and the environment and most of the poor are rural-based who engage in various agricultural activities. Land is a critical asset for the rural poor and lacking means to appropriately intensify agriculture which compels the poor to either overuse or misuse this natural resource base to meet basic needs. This study presents empirical relationship between land and poverty using Foster, Greer and Thorbecke weighted poverty measure. Through the multi-stage sampling procedure, 150 rural farmers were selected with the aid of questionnaire. The results of poverty decomposition show that the prevalence of poverty is more among the nearly landless farming households. Result of stochastic dominance analysis indicate that poverty incidence is sensitive to changes in poverty lines and there is second order stochastic dominance as poverty depth and severity are robust to the choice of poverty line for this sub-group. Results further suggest that households with little or no access to farmland depend on non-farm income sources for family survival. Abstract International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development (IJAMAD

Land and Poverty: Some Empirical Findings Using Cross Sectional Data From Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Poverty is the most serious threat to natural resources and the environment and most of the poor are rural-based who engage in various agricultural activities. Land is a critical asset for the rural poor and lacking means to appropriately intensify agriculture which compels the poor to either overuse or misuse this natural resource base to meet basic needs. This study presents empirical relationship between land and poverty using Foster, Greer and Thorbecke weighted poverty measure. Through the multi-stage sampling procedure, 150 rural farmers were selected with the aid of questionnaire. The results of poverty decomposition show that the prevalence of poverty is more among the nearly landless farming households. Result of stochastic dominance analysis indicate that poverty incidence is sensitive to changes in poverty lines and there is second order stochastic dominance as poverty depth and severity are robust to the choice of poverty line for this sub-group. Results further suggest that households with little or no access to farmland depend on non-farm income sources for family survival

Households’ Decision to Participate in Cooperative Organizations: Evidence from Farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria

Farmer organizations are effective mechanisms for increasing agricultural production, income and reducing poverty. Regrettably, farmers have not taken advantage of the lofty benefits accruable to those who voluntarily join these organizations. The study estimated the factors influencing household’s decision to participate in cooperative organizations and also tested the level of agreement among identified constraints linked with participation. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 farmers for the study. Primary data were obtained using questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Probit model and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Results of analyses revealed that the mean age, years of educational attainment household size and years of farming experience were 32, 15, 5 and 7 respectively. Result of probit analysis further indicate that age of the farmer, farm income, household size, participation in meeting, major decision maker, distance of farm to the nearest road and farmers social status were the most critical factors influencing household’s decision to participate in cooperative organizations. Result of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance revealed that there was 0.42 (moderate agreement) between the ranking of constraints associated with farmers' participation in cooperative organizations. Furthermore, findings showed that the top five factors limiting households’ decision to participate in cooperative organizations were inadequate capital accumulation, high embezzlement of funds, poor leadership, recurring internal crises and lack of initiative. Policies to provide good and accessible roads, increase farmers incomes and encourage youths are rational options that will enhance effective participation in cooperative organizations

The Determinants of Rural Poverty in Nigeria

Most of the population of Nigeria is rural and agriculture is the mainstay of the impoverished people’s livelihood. This paper estimated the determinants of rural poverty in Nigeria using the Tobit regression model. Through the multistage sampling technique, primary data were obtained from 150 rural farming households using a questionnaire. The Result of Tobit regression analysis shows that increase in farm income, farm size and amount of agricultural loan led to a decrease in the level of poverty by 0.9953, 0.1220 and 0.4016 x 10-6 respectively. Membership of the cooperative by household heads, ownership of certain assets, access to extension services, and modern farming inputs, increase in educational attainment and male heads of households decreased the likelihood of being poor. Findings also reveal that except for access to loan that is elastic, the responsiveness of the probability and intensity of poverty to dependency ratio, farming experience, farm size and income are inelastic

The Determinants of Rural Poverty in Nigeria

Most of the population of Nigeria is rural and agriculture isthe mainstay of the impoverished people’s livelihood. Thispaper estimated the determinants of rural poverty in Nigeria usingthe Tobit regression model. Through the multistage samplingtechnique, primary data were obtained from 150 rural farminghouseholds using a questionnaire. The Result of Tobit regressionanalysis shows that increase in farm income, farm size and amountof agricultural loan led to a decrease in the level of poverty by0.9953, 0.1220 and 0.4016 x 10-6 respectively. Membership ofthe cooperative by household heads, ownership of certain assets,access to extension services, and modern farming inputs, increasein educational attainment and male heads of households decreasedthe likelihood of being poor. Findings also reveal that except foraccess to loan that is elastic, the responsiveness of the probabilityand intensity of poverty to dependency ratio, farming experience,farm size and income are inelastic