Abstract:
The growing incidence of poverty and its associated problems in Nigeria including especially Enugu State has given rise to an unfettered emphasis on the need to alleviate it through human capacity enhancement. To this end, diverse policy frameworks have been implemented by successive Nigerian leaders since colonial and post colonial periods in the country; the latest being the National Poverty Alleviation Programme (NAPEP). As such, and as a federal government sponsored programme, NAPEP was therefore, to be established in different states of the federation with the ultimate goal of poverty alleviation through human capacity enhancement. Arising from this background, this study therefore, is principally aimed at investigating the human capacity enhancement in Nigeria by evaluating the NAPEP programmes in Enugu state. It proceeds from two research questions thus; Does implementation of NAPEP programmes in Enugu State contribute to human capacity enhancement?; Does policy interference account for poor implementation of NAPEP programmes in Enugu State?. Our method of data collection was based on descriptive survey. In this way, we obtained our primary data through the distribution of questionnaire, which was designed for selected beneficiaries of NAPEP programmes in the three major zones in Enugu State. In addition, our method of data analysis was based on the use of simple frequency and percentages. Using the classical system theory as propounded by David Easton, and going by the level of decadence of public agencies in Nigeria, it is one of the findings of this study that NAPEP programmes including the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) have not actually contributed to human capacity enhancement in Enugu State. It is equally the finding of this study that policy interference accounts for poor implementation of NAPEP programmes in Enugu State. Arising from these findings, we recommend among other things, the need for different levels of governments in Nigeria to exhibit more political will and commitment in the fight against poverty and its attendant problems in Nigeria.
