Significance of Community Education Programmes in the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal One (Reduction of Poverty) in Rivers State

Abstract

This study examined the significance of community education programmes in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal One (poverty reduction) in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State. Two objectives and two research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey design was adopted in the study with a target population of 34 facilitators and 310 beneficiaries of various community education programmes in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State. The entire 344 population comprising 34 facilitators and 310 beneficiaries of various community education programmes were taken as census without sampling. The instrument for data collection in this study was a self-designed questionnaire titled “Significance of Community Education in Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal One Questionnaire” (SCEASDGOQ). The validity of the instrument was determined by two experts. The internal consistency of the instrument was tested using Cronbach Alpha statistics. Reliability coefficients of 0.72 and 0.83 were obtained from the various research questions in the instrument. The researchers administered copies of the instrument to the respondents and retrieved completed copies of the instrument themselves. Out of the 344 copies of the questionnaire administered, 339 copies were properly filled and used for the study. The data collected through the questionnaire were analysed using mean statistics and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed among others that skills acquisition training programmes enhance the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal One (Reduction of poverty) in Port Harcourt metropolis by equipping community members with skills for paid and self employment, discouraging idleness, increasing income of those already in employment and reducing insecurity among youths that could hinder development. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that companies operating and doing business in communities in Rivers State should collaborate with community leaders and local government authorities to organize periodic skills acquisition programmes for community members. This will engage more people in paid jobs or self-employment and ultimately reduce poverty.