Establecimiento de objetivos

This region covers about 16,000 sq miles (i.e. 40,000km2) in the South Eastern part of the country moving towards the sea. It is the original homeland of the Igbos with an estimated population of more than 40 million (Akaolisa, 2012:28). It has a population density of 1,000/sq ml (400/km2). The region is made up of relatively level area with some notable areas of elevation especially going northwards. It has a highest elevation of 3300 ft (1,000m) and 0 ft (Om) as the

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lowest (Isichei, 1976). It is situated in the ND region of West Africa, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean in the south towards the Bight of Bonny, located between 5-7 degrees north, and longitude 6-8 degrees east. It has land on both sides of the lower Niger River, though the chunk of the region is situated in the east of the river. It is a rainforest zone.

The South Eastern region became a British colony in 1902 and was amalgamated with the other regions in 1914 to create Nigeria. Its regional capital was Enugu. The major language spoken in this region is Igbo with different dialects. The Igbo’s are predominantly Christian with a few traditional worshipers. Economically, they are well-known traders and farmers. They travel to different parts of the world to transact business. The region hosts major hubs for Nigeria’s trade and commerce. A few people in the rural area are subsistence farmers. This zone is important to this present study from the perspective of gathering an understanding of poverty from the view point of traders and farmers. This region comprises five states Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Abia.

6.5.2.1.2 South-West

The South Western region of Nigeria is the home of the Yoruba tribe. It consists of the area south of the River Niger extending towards the sea. The area covers a relatively large area of land with varied geographical features. It extends from the rainforest zone to the mangroves at the sea. The Yoruba people who occupy the SW are mainly farmers and fishermen, though about 35% of them are merchants, artists or craftsmen (Atanda, 1997:25). The various understandings of poverty from the perspective of these groups of people justify the inclusion of this zone in this present study. One of the features that make the Yoruba people unique is their tendency to form into large city groups instead of small village groups. They are one of the three main ethnic groups and they make up 21% of the total population of Nigeria (Atanda, 1997:25). The SW zone consists of Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States of Nigeria. Some major historical and commercial cities in this zone are in Lagos, Ile-ife, Ibadan, Abeokuta and Ado-Ekiti.

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6.5.2.1.3 North-Central

This region is popularly known in Nigeria as the ‘Middle Belt’. It describes the region of central Nigeria populated largely by the minority ethnic groups stretching across the country longitudinally. The area is located between the core Hausa people of the North and the Yoruba and Igbo people of the South. Due to the extensive landscape of the region, it lacks definite boarders and is characterized by a heterogeneity and diversity of peoples and cultures. The area has an estimated population of about 22 million (Orji, 2004:14).

Economically, the NC region is agricultural. The majority of the population are subsistence farmers. It offers the opportunity for production of a wide variety of crops such as cereals, yams, potatoes and other vegetables. The area has access to the rivers Niger and Benue and therefore many people in this area engage in fishing. The economic activities in this zone bring differing perspectives to the understanding of poverty and justify the inclusion of this zone into this present study.

The middle belt region consists of Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger and Taraba states. Major historical and commercial towns in the region include Ilorin, Jos, Lokoja, Bida, Otukpo and Lafia.

6.5.2.1.4 South-South

The SS is popularly known as the Niger Delta (ND) region. It officially extends to over 70,000km2/sq ml and makes up 7.5% of Nigeria’s land mass. The region is in the mangrove swamp of the River Niger and the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean. It is an area of heavy rainfall with heavy vegetation (Oluwatoyin, 2010:12). The ND is made up of a huge diversity of cultures and languages, as well as many tribes and ethnic groups, such as the Ijaws, Orons, Urhobos, Ukwuanis, Ibibios, Efik, Isoko etc. The area features about 200 different dialects (Oluwatoyin, 2010:13). Economically, the region is predominantly dominated by fishing activities being in the river-line area. It is however the oasis of crude oil resources in Nigeria. States that are included in the region are Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Edo. Major commercial areas include Warri, Uyo, Calabar and Port-Harcourt.

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This diversity of cultures, as well as being the centre of Nigerian oil production, warrant including this zone in this present study in order to bring yet other perspective into the understanding of poverty.