Diffusion of Innovation Patterns among Poverty Alleviation Agencies and Sustainable Development Challenges in the Niger Delta Region: The Rivers State Experience

Abstract

The thrust of this paper was predicated on how well the poverty alleviation agencies in Rivers state have been able to streamline the precepts of their programmes to square with the dynamics of diffusion of innovation with a view to according sustainability to poverty eradication. Two government agencies concerned with poverty alleviation -The Adolescent Project (TAP) and Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) -were purposively sampled based on operational visibility between 1999 till date. Analysis was done through focal group discussions in the form of Participant Cluster Appraisal (PCA). Discussions revealed that the core programmes of the agencies did not permeate the grassroots. It was also revealed that the schemes were grossly ineffectual. It was further observed by aggregation that the schemes did not engender a better quality of life for baseline demographics since the vocational skills acquisition programmes did not translate into entrepreneurial ventures for participants. This by deduction was due to the fact that the diffusion of innovation pattern adopted by these agencies was predominantly downward and this made the participants to respond based on a bandwagon effect rather than a conviction of their innermost potentials and desires. In other words, the diffusion of innovation pattern of the agencies was vertical rather than lateral and this accounted for the predominant lack of sustainability. It was therefore recommended that the dialogic and horizontal pattern of diffusion of innovation should be adopted by poverty alleviation agencies so as to allow for collectivity of will among stakeholders. This by projection will evolve a synergistic framework that will ensure sustainability.

A study of poverty alleviation strategies for sustainable development: A scientometric analysis

“…Government investment stimulates job creation and boosts production, reducing poverty [ 42 ]. The government assists and subsidises people experiencing poverty or invests in infrastructure and food production, increasing the employment rate and the output of poverty alleviation strategies [ 43 ]. Poverty alleviation resettlement is a widely adopted poverty alleviation strategy.…”

Systematic literature review of the role of e-commerce in providing pathways to sustainability for poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…They discuss the challenges confronting the sustainability of poverty alleviating innovations in low-income countries where supportive political and commercial infrastructure may be weak or nonexistent and offer suggestions for future research. To highlight these challenges, Okon [58] observed the outcomes of two initiatives in the Niger delta region in Nigeria. Two successive programs aimed to empower women and to educate and train youth in vocational skills failed because there was no diffusion of innovation.…”

“…Two successive programs aimed to empower women and to educate and train youth in vocational skills failed because there was no diffusion of innovation. According to Okon [58] these failures suffered from top-down imperatives rather than a lateral engagement of the beneficiaries in the objectives, conduct, and outcomes of the programs.…”

“…The main outcome of this SLR is confirmation that large numbers of SMEs can engage in highly diverse activities over a broader demographic [10][11][12] than larger location-centric businesses. Large commercial operations play a significant role in the overall economy, but SMEs are central to strategies for low-income community development and poverty alleviation.…”

Anotaciones sobre la noción de pobreza desde el desarrollo sostenible

“…• Otros temas sobre los que se ha analizado la pobreza en relación con elementos del desarrollo sostenible, se encuentran ligados con seguridad alimentaria, justicia e inclusión social (Alam, Wahid & Siwar, 2018), escasez de alimentos (Mikalauskiene, Sarkiunaite, Streimikiene & Zlateva, 2018), seguridad energética (Sovacool & Mukherjee, 2011), justicia ambiental (Middleton, Allouche, Gyawali & Allen, 2015), resiliencia (Béne et al, 2011) y evaluación de políticas públicas (Okon, 2014).…”