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

European Journal of Social Sciences - Volume 2, Number 1 (2006)
Table 3: Composition and Structure of Employment Of Target Groups
Occupation Composition
Primary Secondary % of Native Non-native
respondents (%)
(%)
Farming Artisans 69.5 89.2 10.2
Artisans Farming 7.5 75.5 24.5
Petty Trading Farming 3.5 75.0 25.0
Civil Service Farming/Petty Trading 14.8 84.5 15.5
Small Scale Enterprises Farming 2.2 55.8 44.2
Transporters(NURTW) Farming 2.5 81.6 18.4
Total
Source: Survey Data (2004)
100.0 76.8 23.2
Except for Life Vanguards that is mainly for the youth, it was revealed that there was no age
restriction to membership of groups. However, members must satisfy certain conditions such as
engagement in some form of economic activities before their names can be registered. Also except for
Life Vanguards, WOCDIF and Handicapped groups that were recently launched, all other target groups
had been in existence for a period not less than 10 years. Indeed, the creation of Life Vanguards,
WOCDIF and Handicapped groups were as a result of NEEDS in the state.
Except for members of WOCDIF which are mainly women and NURTW and Bakers'
association that are mainly men, members of each target group are of mixed gender and respondents
feel that very large percentage of the members of these group were, indeed, poor. The survey data
identified youth and women as the most target groups in NEEDS programme. This finding is
supported by the operational guidelines of most poverty alleviation programmes (NEEDS inclusive)
which ensure adequate consideration for youth and women as regards employment opportunities and
poverty reduction. In spite of all policies and programmes aiming at improving women's lots in Osun
State, records of poverty alleviation is not yet satisfactory.
The survey result indicates that well over 50.0 per cent of the entire population is poor which
indicates that previous national employment and poverty alleviation programmes are yet to have a
positive impact on the life of poor people in Osun state. Indication of severe poverty among group
members was reflected in the number of activities that respondents said members have to engage in to
make ends meet. Except for youth and handicapped organizations, members were found to be engaged
in more than one job. Apart from the dominant occupation which is reflected by the type and name of
each group, members involved themselves in diverse occupations which are reported as secondary
occupations in Table 3. Members are involved in multiple occupation simply to enhance their income
generation as well as their standard of living. It is, therefore, easy to see an artisan who is also a civil
servant and at the same time a farmer or a trader. In spite of combination of various jobs,
unemployment and poverty still persist in Osun state. This, perhaps is due to subsistent nature of most
sectors of the economy in which they were engaged.
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