Sustainable Heritage: The Tool for Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria

Poverty is a phenomenon that is recognizable and common worldwide except that, the degree of impact varies from country to country and region to region. In the advanced countries, like the United States of America (USA), Britain and France to mention a few, the level of poverty is appreciably reduced and the classification of poverty different as compared to the advancing countries. This is attributed to the advanced countries’ agenda as to the issue of poverty and the structures or programmes put in place to tackle or alleviate poverty. In Nigeria, programmes such as National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), National Empowerment and Economic Development Strategy (NEEDS), Human Development and Poverty Reduction (HD & PR), to mention a few, are all geared towards alleviating poverty and economically empowering the people. Nigeria is richly endowed with both natural and cultural heritages which if properly harnessed and well positioned, will impact positively on tourism and hospitality business, and the national Economy generally. This study believes that poverty could be alleviated in Nigeria through sustainable heritage. This is because tourists from within and outside Nigeria will be attracted to these heritage sites, employment opportunities will be created within the host community through the development of physical structures like roads, resorts and or guest houses, there will be an increase in commerce activities by way of making and selling of art and craft works as souvenirs, restaurants for local delicacies to mention a few. This will in the long run help in alleviating poverty issues in Nigeria. Poverty as experienced in Nigeria was discussed and possible cause(s) identified. One of the poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria was reviewed in order to assess its impact and some heritages in Nigeria identified and their physical status highlighted to express the need for their sustainability. The study revealed that sustainable heritage will not only impact positively on tourism and hospitality industry but will help in alleviating poverty in Nigeria. Finally, the study suggested ways national heritage (architectural monuments) could be sustained in order to achieve the proposed goal to serve as a tool for poverty alleviation in Nigeria.