EFFECT OF VITAMINS C AND E INTAKE ON BLOOD ... - EuroJournals

International Research Journal of Finance and Economics – Volume 2, Number I (2006)
is covered. NEEDS as policy statement is very clear and simple; it is aimed at developing human
resources for higher productivity and self-sufficiency and eradication of poverty from the lives of every
Nigerian citizen (NPC, 2004).
The overall objective of establishing all the above-named structures and indeed NEEDS is to
ensure that all poverty alleviation and employment programmes are implemented, coordinated and
sustained such that the set targets are met. Also, there is a dire need for a structured framework for
monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the employment and poverty alleviation programmes
put in place. Thus, the question that readily comes to one's mind is whether NEEDS has met its
targets. Indeed, the question of whether the goals of NEEDS programme have achieved has to be
examined now and if not, what should be done. Yet in other words, how effective are
NEEDS/SEEDS/LEEDS in solving unemployment and poverty problems in Osun state of Nigeria?
What gap is left to be filled by NEEDS? In order to provide appropriate answers to the questions
raised, the paper examines the impact of poverty alleviation and employment generation of
NEEDS/SEEDS/LEEDS policy on target groups since its inception in 2003.
The large population of Nigeria, growing urbanization, unemployment and poverty suggest the
need for speed in evolving and implementing knowledge-based actions to avert the full blown of the
epidemics. Thus, an important part of effort to combat unemployment and poverty epidemic requires
quantitative investigation of the impact of NEEDS/SEEDS on the target groups. The prevalence of
poverty and unemployment in Nigeria is becoming frighteningly high and thus a topical issue
contemporarily. In essence, the paper is considered pertinent in light of the currently launched NEEDS
in the country. The paper, therefore, assesses the impact of employment generation and poverty
alleviation programmes of NEEDS strategy on poor people in Osun State of Nigeria.
In order to put the discussion into proper context, the paper is organized into five sections.
Following the introduction, section 2 focusses on background information of the study area (i.e., Osun
State of Nigeria). Section 3 discusses the methodology adopted. While section 4 analyzes the results
of survey, section 5 concludes the paper with appropriate recommendation.
Background information on osun state:
Geographical and demographical profile:
Osun State was created on August 27 th , 1991 from the old Oyo state. The State lies approximately
within latitudes 6 o 55 and 8 o 10 North and longitudes 3 o 55 and 5 o 05 East, and covers a total
landmass of about 7,997.55 square kilometers. The area is underlain by rocks of the Basement
Complex. Two specific rock groups are prominent. These are the migmatite complex which outcrop in
Ilesa and Ife area and the metasediments found in Iwo and Ikire areas. The land surface of Osun State
is generally undulating descending from an altitude of over 450 metres above sea level in the Osun and
Ijesa areas, to 150 metres above sea level and below in the southern parts. These characteristics give
rise to two main physiographic regions: a stretch of the Yoruba highlands to the north and the
undulating lowland to the south. Prominent high ranges are found at Ilesa, Igbajo-Okemesi, Elu and
Oba. Many rivers drain the state. The most prominent of these is Osun from which the state derives its
name. Other major rivers are Oni, Shasha and Oba.
The soils derive from the local geology and belong to the group of ferruginous tropical red
soils. They are generally deep and of two types namely deep clayey soils formed on low smooth
hillcrests and upper slopes, and the sandier hill wash soils on the lower slopes. The clayey soils are
well drained and best support cocoa and coffee cultivation. The other group of soils are more suitable
for cultivating local food crops such as yams, cassava and maize. Soil degradation and erosion are
generally not serious but considerable hill wash occurs along hill slopes. Originally, virtually all parts
of the state are under a rich low land tropical rain forest vegetation. Tracts of this original vegetation
can still be found in forest reserves to the south. However, to a large extent, the vegetation has given in
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