Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria: Need for the Development of Archaeo-Tourism

ABSTRACT

Many of governmental bodies such as commissions, and councils have been established to tackle the problem of poverty and probably bring it to abrupt end in Nigeria. Among such bodies is the National Poverty Alleviation Programme (NAPEP) with the aim of wiping out poverty from Nigeria by 2010. At the instance of tourism translating poverty to huge economics fortunes in many other countries of the World, NAPEP and Nigerian government has not realized the economic fortunes associated with archaeo-tourism in Nigeria. Hence, as at 2007, the realization of economic prosperity by 2010 in Nigeria seems incomprehensible. In view of this, the paper emphasizes the development of sustainable archaeo-tourism industry in Nigeria for poverty reduction and partial (if not whole) solution to the pertinent problem of unemployment presently ravaging the country. The whole idea is to promote pro poor tourism in Nigeria. To achieve this, however, archaeological reconnaissance survey, oral interview and literature review were adopted as methods of approach. Thus, it is observed that the numerous archaeological sites/features in Nigeria could be transformed to tourism resources. Consequently, poverty alleviation would be a reality through another dimension.

Keywords:

• Archaeology
• Tourism
• Poverty
• Alleviation
• Resources
• Employment