National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) and Socio Economic Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Akwa Ibom State
Abstract
Over the years, social protection programs have emerged as a critical instrument for addressing poverty, unemployment, and inequality in emerging economies. In Nigeria, the National Social Investment Program (NSIP) introduced in 2016 was designed to enhance socioeconomic development through youth empowerment, financial inclusion, job creation, and social welfare interventions. Despite its wide implementation, the effectiveness of the program in achieving sustainable socio-economic results at the state level remains a topic of discussion. This study examined the impact of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), with a specific focus on the N-Power and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) on socioeconomic development in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This study adopted a survey research design. The study population comprised 369,225 NSIP beneficiaries in Akwa Ibom State, from which a sample size of 359 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Data were collected through a structured four point Likert-scale questionnaire, and 302 valid responses were analyzed. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and coefficient of determination were employed to test the hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05. The findings revealed a strong and positive relationship between the N-Power program and employment opportunities in Akwa Ibom State (r = 0.788, p < 0.05). Similarly, a significant positive relationship was found between GEEP and the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) (r = 0.685, p < 0.05). These results indicate that both components of the NSIP contributed meaningfully to employment generation and enterprise development among beneficiaries. The study concludes that the National Social Investment Programme has had a significant positive impact on socioeconomic development in Akwa Ibom State, particularly through youth employment creation and SME growth. However, the sustainability of these gains depends on effective exit strategies, skill enhancement, and integration of beneficiaries into long-term employment and enterprise support systems.