Prospects and Problems of Non-Governmental Organizations in Poverty Alleviation and Community Development in Gombe State, Nigeria

The World Bank sponsored Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), launched in 1990 envisaged a world free of poverty by the year 2015. The North-East (where Gombe State is centrally located) is experiencing significantly higher poverty and lack of progress in poverty reduction efforts. With coming to end of 2015, much still need to be done to attain the MDGs. With over 62.6% Nigerian population still very poor, there is need for a continuous search for alternative planning & development options that would help ameliorate poverty and sustained our dream for a world free of poverty and wants. This study examines the prospects and investigates the constraints of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in poverty alleviation and community development. Literature review, questionnaire and interview methods were used for the study. The findings revealed that: finance, continuity of projects/programmes, conflicts and insecurity were the major problems confronting the NGOs. An interesting revelation is that majority of the respondents indicated that they wait for the NGOs or Government to initiate poverty alleviation programmes/projects. The implication is that the community dwellers need attitudinal change necessary for self reliance. The prospect of NGOs in poverty alleviation and community development in the study area is very bright due to rapid population growth & increasing poverty levels with the attendant positive effects on urban planning and regional development. The study recommends that NGOs should (1) form an association to enable them work together, and utilize social capital in their operation/services. (2) seek to explore avenues for funding from donor agencies. Finally, the Government needs to address some of its short comings.