Philip Iorheghem Iorja
Department of Home and Rural Economics,
Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture,
Yandev, Benue State, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]
Dorcas Doorumun Iorgyer
Department of Home and Rural Economics,
Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture,
Yandev, Benue State, Nigeria.
Nguumbur Clara Atsehe
ISIEN Rock Innovation Institute,
Km 4, Yandev- Gboko Bye Pass,
Gboko North, Benue State, Nigeria.
Abstract
This study looks at the role of Home Economics in poverty alleviation in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. The main objective of this work is to determine the extent to which Home Economics has contributed to poverty alleviation in the study area. The specific objectives include: to identify the various skills Home Economics has used to alleviate poverty in the study are; to identify the impact of Home Economics in alleviating poverty in the study area; to determine the extent to which Home Economics has contributed to poverty alleviation in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. The population was made up of 250 people who engaged in different Home Economics activities. A sample size of 160 respondents was selected from the population. Purposive sampling method was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Simple frequency and percentages were used for data analysis. The paper concludes that home economic activities such as catering services, restaurant management, bakery – bread making, snacks, cake making, fast food business, ice cream and yoghurt business, preparation of soya milk and other food drinks and decoration all contribute to poverty alleviation. It recommends that Economic Extension Agents should train people in various Home Economics skills while government, banks and micro finance institutions should give loans to the trainees in various skills to establish their businesses to help alleviate poverty.
KEY WORDS: HOME ECONOMICS, POVERTY, POVERTY ALLEVIATION, SKILLS, INCOME, VOCATION