Contributions of community based organisations to poverty alleviation in Oyo state, Nigeria

In Nigeria, Community Based Organisations (CBOs) have been involved in diverse development and poverty reduction programmes in many states. In Oyo State, their involvements have been evident for more than five decades now, a long time enough for their impacts to be readily felt, thus due for empirical evaluation. This study therefore evaluated activities of CBOs, as institutions of civil society, in poverty reduction in Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were collected through questionnaire administration on 1,104 households across three (3) Senatorial Districts in the State. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were also conducted for registered CBOs in the districts. Descriptive statistics were used in analysing the data collected. Findings revealed that many CBOs existed in the areas, out of which the Landlord Associations and Town Unions accounted for 60 per cent. The projects that have abated poverty which were undertaken by these CBOs were in the areas of economy and empowerment (63.7%), security facilities and services (23.0%), and infrastructure provision (13.3%). Any attempt towards sustainable development should therefore take into cognisance the impact that these two organisations, among others, are capable of exerting in locations that exemplifies similar cultural, social, economic and political characteristics.