STRATEGIES FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN RURAL AREAS FOR A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA.

Poverty is universally acknowledged as a menace requiring urgent attention. Poverty is largely associated with developing countries particularly those in sub-Sahara Africa where a large proportion of the World poor are found. This paper examines meaning and concept of poverty alleviation, manifestation of poverty in Nigeria, the poor and their location, dept and severity of poverty in Nigeria, root causes of poverty in Nigeria and finally identifies multi dimensional strategies aimed at poverty reduction in rural Nigeria some of which are highlighted thus: - The provision of educational programme targeted at the poor groups in the population. - The provision of employment opportunities to the large mass of unemployed in the society. - The provision of basic infrastructural facilities (e.g Electricity, pipe-borne water, good motorable roads etc) to transform the social life of the poor and - The adoption of good governance, transparency, accountability and social responsibility.