Ámbito interno

6.5.1.1 Criteria for the selection of zones, states, communities and participants for FGDs

A total of eight FGDs were held; two in each of the four-geopolitical zones covered. The four-geopolitical zones are: South-East (SE), South-South (SS), South-West (SW), and North-Central (NC). It was supposed to be a total of 12 FGDs covering six-geopolitical zones, but the study excluded two zones, namely: North-East (NE) and North-West (NW), both afflicted by the “Boko Haram” crisis. “Boko Haram” is an Islamic movement in the northern part of

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Nigeria purported to reject all forms of westernization, and holds that western education is forbidden thereby attacking schools, as well as government and Christians, who are deemed agents of westernization.

This present study selected two states, from within the four different geo- political zones. The states were selected based on convenience and accessibility, as well as to reflect geographical characteristics of each regions and zones, such as culture and economic activities, that might influence their perceptions of what poverty is. For instance, Ayoola et al, (2001) notes that perception and understanding of poverty may vary due to location. Therefore, having different types of geographical locations may bring novel perspectives and understandings to the discussion on poverty. Based on the above, the following states were then selected: Anambra and Imo states in the SE; Delta and Akwa-Ibom states in the SS; Ondo and Lagos states10 in the SW; and Benue and Kogi states in the NC. These zones will be explained briefly in the next section.

A community and location were selected from each of these states. The criteria for selecting these communities were based on ‘easy accessibility’11

to the communities by the researcher. The selection is also based on whether the community is a rural, semi-urban or urban community. Some of these communities have some basic facilities while others have minimal facilities and others barely have basic facilities. The major occupations in these communities are farming, fishing, and petty trading, amongst others; though each had some civil servants and wealthy people. These criteria of selection are also important because people with different access to basic facilities and different occupations might perceive and define poverty differently.

In view of the above, the researcher selected the following communities: Ikare (Ondo state SW), Ajamgbadi (Lagos state SW), Otobi (Benue state NC), Anyigba (Kogi state NC), Umunede (Delta state SS), Afaha Eket (Akwa-Ibom

10

Lagos State is one of the states in the South-West of Nigeria. The Yorubas are the main inhabitants, along with a mixture of people from various ethnic groups in Nigeria. The state was the former capital of Nigeria until 12th December 1991, when Abuja was chosen as the new capital under the military dictatorship of the late general Sani Abacha. It is a state known for its large economic activities and serves as centre for all forms of national and international trade. The dominant religions here are mainly Christianity and Islam.

11

‘Easy accessibility’ is understood here not in terms of good roads but in terms of having known the communities before and having someone that could help as volunteer.

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state SS), Eziagulu (Anambra state SE) and Ulakwo (Imo state SE). These communities will be explained in the next section.

The criteria for the selection of the FGDs participants were based on voluntary acceptance as well as on challenges and backgrounds. Information bias was also another criterion for the selection of participants. On the selected dates and with the permission of the community leaders, whom the researcher had contacted previously, the researcher would always address those around and from among them, ask for volunteer participants. The selection of participants was done voluntarily and the researcher did not allow the community leaders to do the selection by themselves, lest they might select people that would speak on their sides. This was done by the researcher to prevent information bias (see appendix 9).

Equally, people with similar experiences, challenges or backgrounds were selected so as to make discussions easier and make people feel free to talk with each other. People facing similar challenges like poverty were mostly selected, so as to be able to discuss the topic of study in depth, though there were some non-poor as well. Selecting the poor was to some extent challenging, but further interactions with regard to their different occupations became helpful as most of those selected were peasant farmers and petty traders. As part of the tools used to get an authentic and reliable response from the discussions, the targeted audiences for FGDs therefore took into consideration issues of gender, age and the poor themselves located in the rural and sometimes semi or urban areas. The reasons for this are obvious: Frequently, most people, and more especially the rural poor, as well as the poor in semi or urban populations, are neglected and excluded from various policies and programmes mapped out by the government for poverty alleviation. At other times, their voices are not heard so as to better understand what their challenges are with regard to issues of poverty.

This present study selected 12 participants for each group so as to get a good group discussion as well as get a reasonable number of participants in case some people decide to opt out on the day of discussion. Morgan and Krueger (1998), deem this number ideal for FGD. Though 12 participants were selected to constitute each group, for one reason or the other some of them who

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volunteered did not turn up. For example, on the day of the FGDs for Otobi in Benue state, NC Nigeria, one woman out of the 12 participants selected telephoned the researcher and said she did not have time as she needed to attend to another meeting. Other two participants who were absent did not send any apologies. In all, only 9 participants attended in that group. In another instance, one male participant out of 12 people who accepted to participate in Umunede, Delta state, SS Nigeria did not turn up but sent his son to inform the researcher that his wife had given birth the previous night and so he could not attend. Other absentees in that group did not send any apologies. Only 6 people attended the discussion from that group. A woman in Ulakwo, Imo state SE Nigeria, said she was attending to her sick child. The rest in all other groups who did not come did not send any apologies.

However, in one instance, one group at Eziagulu community in Anambra state SE Nigeria ended up with all women. The men who had volunteered failed to turn up. I later gathered that the reason why the men did not turn up was gender segregation norms. It is not always the practice to have men and women together for discussion in that community. No one told me this earlier, until after the discussion and that was why the men who volunteered did not come (see appendix 12 for details of participants and dates).

6.5.1.2 Criteria for selection of organisations and respondents interviewed

The study targeted three different kinds of organisations, namely: the government, private (NGOs), and religious organisations that have the official duty of combating poverty in Nigeria, as well as academics who have done works on poverty. The rationale for selecting these different groups of organisations and people is to seek broad understandings of poverty and how these differing perspectives have helped in the combating of poverty.

The researcher selected either the directors or deputy directors. There were occasions where other staff of some organisations were involved, especially where the director or deputy director is new. The rationale behind selecting these people is that they are deemed knowledgeable in the activities of the organisations and interactions with their own and with the poor and other agencies. The researcher first contacted the organisations through their contact

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details, and informed them that they had been selected for an interview and requested for the contact details of the directors or the deputy directors (see appendix 10). The researcher wrote to either of the two for permission to research in their organisation, with the accompanying letter from the researcher’s supervisors (see appendix 13). On invitation from either the directors or deputy directors, the researcher went and met with them in person, and verbally explained the purpose of the interview.

Five people were interviewed from five government organisations, eleven people from four religious organisations, four people from four private organisations, and two academics. The disparity in numbers was a result of availability from the original numbers of people scheduled to be interviewed. Some excused themselves that they were on official duties and as such would not be able to honour the invitation again. Some did not show up at all. In all, 15 interviews were done, which involved 22 people. There were some organisations where more than one person was interviewed and that brought the numbers of those interviewed to 22 (see appendix 11). Most of these interviews covered four of the six geo-political zones for reasons of security, as explained above. The states covered depend mainly on where the organisations were based. Interviews were then held in the following states: Abuja municipal, Lagos, Ondo, Anambra, Benue, Abia and Imo states. Most interviews were held in Lagos and Abuja municipal since most of these organisations have their headquarters in Lagos and the FCT, Abuja (see also appendix 11).