THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) IN TACKLING POVERTY IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA: A Case Study of Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) 2007-2015 By HASSAN ADO M.SC/SOC-SCI/6168-11/12-8181-16/17 SUPERVISORY TEAM: Professor P.P. Izah And Dr. Aliyu Yahaya MSC DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA FOR THE AWARD OF MSC DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. 2017 i Declaration I declare that this thesis “The role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Tackling Poverty through women economic empowerment: A case study of Women Farmers Advancement Network of Nigeria (WOFAN)” has been conducted by me in the department of Political Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The information derived from the literature has been duly acknowledged in the thesis and list of references provided. This thesis was not previously presented for the award of another Degree or Diploma at any University. __________________ ___________________ Hassan Ado Date M.SC/SOC-SCI/6168-11/12-8181-16/17 ii Certification This thesis entitled “The role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Tackling Poverty through women economic empowerment: A case study of Women Farmers Advancement Network of Nigeria (WOFAN)” by Hassan Ado has met the requirements and regulations governing the award of the Degree of Masters in Political Science of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and is approved for its contribution to knowledge and humanity. _____________________ _____________________ Professor P. P.Izah Date Chairman Supervisory Committee _____________________ _____________________ Dr. Aliyu Yahaya Date Member Supervisory Committee _____________________ _____________________ Dr. Aliyu Yahaya Date Head of Department _____________________ _____________________ Prof. S. Z. Abubakar Date Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies iii Dedication I dedicated this thesis to my parents Alhaji Shehu Umar Imam and Hajia Fatima Isah. iv Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Almighty Allah, the most gracious and most merciful, the creator, the cherisher, the sustainer of the world and the master of the Day of Judgment. Peace and blessing be upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his family, his companions and those who follow them with goodness up to the Day of Judgment. My appreciation goes to my supervisors, Professor P. P Izah and Dr. AliyuYahaya for their constructive criticisms, corrections and words of encouragement. Equally, I am grateful to the H.O.D. of Political Science and the entire academic and non-academic staff of Political Science Department and School of Postgraduate Studies. I am also indebted to the Provost, Deputy Provost, Directors, Deans, H.O.D.s, academic and non-academic staff of Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso- Kano for their various forms of assistance and prayers while l am pursuing my Msc at ABU Zaria. I am also grateful to Malam Saidu Abdullahi, Malam Abdussalam Kani v and Malam Aminu Idris Harbau for their numerous assistance during the course of writing this thesis. Finally, I wish to thank the entire members of my family especially my parents, my wife and children for their patience and prayers while I was engaged in writing this thesis. I wish all Allah’s guidance and protection, amen. vi Contents Declaration ...........................................................................................................................ii Certification ........................................................................................................................ iii Dedication ........................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. v LIST OF ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................... x Abstract .............................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................. 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Study ............................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Research Problem .............................................................................. 3 1.4 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Research Propositions ................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................. 6 1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study .............................................................................. 7 1.8 Definition of Key Terms ............................................................................................... 8 1.9 The Plan of the Study .................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................. 10 LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................ 10 2.1 Literature Review........................................................................................................ 10 2.1.1Conceptual Clarification: Poverty, Economic Empowerment and Non-Government Organisation ...................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2 Causes and Effects of Poverty ................................................................................. 19 2.1.3 The Emergence and Growth of Civil Society Organisation in International Perspective ........................................................................................................................ 25 2.1.4 Relationship between Civil Society Organisations, Non-Government Organisations and State ............................................................................................................................ 33 2.1.5 Impact of Donor Agencies on NGOs ....................................................................... 39 2.1.6 Criticisms of NGOs.................................................................................................. 40 2.1.7 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the State .................................. 42 2.1.8 Roles of Non-Government Organisation and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria .......... 45 2.1.9 Strategies of Poverty Reduction Employed by Non-Government Organisations .... 56 2.1.10 Women Economic Empowerment in Nigeria ........................................................ 61 2.1.11 Obstacles to Women’s Economic Empowerment.................................................. 65 vii 2.2 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................... 66 2.2.1 The Main Assumptions of the Theory ..................................................................... 68 2.2.2 Critique of the Theory .............................................................................................. 69 2.2.3 Relevance of the Theory to the Study ...................................................................... 70 CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................... 72 METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN .................................................................................. 72 3.1 Methodology of the Study .......................................................................................... 72 3.2 Research Design.......................................................................................................... 72 3.3 Sources and Method of Data Collection ..................................................................... 73 3.4 Population Description................................................................................................ 74 3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Technique ........................................................................ 74 3.6 Recruitment of Research Assistants ............................................................................ 76 3.7 Method of Data Analysis ............................................................................................ 76 3.8 Limitation of the Study ............................................................................................... 77 CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................. 78 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AREA (KURA, BUNKURE AND GWARZO) ..... 78 4.1 An overview of Nigerian Economy ............................................................................ 78 4.2 Nature and Incidence of Poverty in Nigeria ............................................................... 80 4.3 The distribution of poverty in Nigeria ........................................................................ 84 4.4 Poverty Eradication/Reduction Programmes in Nigeria ............................................. 86 4.6 History of Women