RURAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UMUADA IN ANAMBRA STATE: A STUDY OF ADANRI GLOBAL INITIATIVE (ANGI)

Abstract

The study titled Rural development through Umuada in Anambra State, Nigeria aims to investigate how Ada Nri Global Initiative (ANGI) have through their economic empowerment, educational outreach and health outreach impacted on the elderly and schools in Anambra State, Nigeria. Anchored on Social capital theory. A descriptive survey research design was employed, targeting all members of ANGI in Anambra, with a sample size of 320 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and Pearson’s product correlation analysis. The findings revealed significant positive effect of Economic empowerment, educational outreach and health outreach of ANGI in the study area. The findings revealed that women groups are usually more strategic in the identification and subsequent execution of the right programmes that can improve the quality of living of their people. (ANGI) educational outreach programmes have been effective in improving the learning outcomes in the schools’ children in Nri. With the P value of 0.631, 0.113 at 0.05 alpha level with 378 degrees of freedom the study concludes that ANGI'S economic improvement initiatives were effective. Also, that the initiatives have improved the wellbeing of the elderly in Nri. The study recommends that Umuada across other states should take a leaf from AdaNri Global Initiative to develop their various communities as it augments the government efforts since government cannot do it alone especially at the grassroot level. Men folds should support the Umuada in their various communities financially to enable them do more in ensuring the wellbeing of the elderly in their communities. The philanthropist should key into AdaNri Global Initiative programs and support them financially to ensure the sustainability of the developmental projects by the group.