Journal of Sociology and Social Work

Self-Help Initiatives and Sustainable Development in Resettlement Schemes: The Case of Bakassi Resettlement Programme in Cross River State, Nigeria
Isokon, Brown Egbe, Okom, Monica Iyombe

Abstract
The study examine settlers’ self-help initiatives and sustainable development in Bakassi resettlement scheme in Cross River State, Nigeria. To elicit information, a questionnaire was designed and administered to three hundred and fifty (350) household heads and further confirmed with Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The research adopted a descriptive survey design utilizing both cross sectional and correlation analysis while the stratified and systematic random sampling techniques were used to select the sample. In testing the research hypothesis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (F) statistical analysis was adopted. The result indicated that settlers’ self-help initiatives have significant impact on sustainable development in Bakassi resettlement scheme in Cross River State, Nigeria. In other words, settlers’ self help initiatives led to the attainment of qualitative and quantitative changes in the lives of settlers as well as promote sustainable development in the resettlement. In the light of this finding, the study stresses the need for government to pursue consistent policy targets that would create sustainable resettlement scheme through self help development. That is, government should support the settlers’ self-help development efforts as a strategy for the socio-economic development of the program.

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