Competency Strategies in Alleviating Poverty for Sustainable Development in the Teaching and Learning of Home Economics Education

Abstract

This study looked at poverty scenario in Edo State and how Home Economics graduate from the
universities can use their competency to alleviate poverty for sustainable development. A self developed
questionnaire of 4 point instrument was used for data collection from150 respondents from 25 shops in 2
zones i .e commercial and residential areas in Edo State. The data collected was subjected to frequency
distribution count and percentage rating analysis. The findings shows that majority of the home economics
graduate from our universities exhibited low competencies of less than 15.0% in business management
feasibility, business risk management, business finance management, and creativity ability in alleviating
poverty in their chosen business ventures: the reasons being that they were all involved in buying and
selling cake items for baking, interior decoration items, provision and toiletries among others. Findings
further revealed that all the studied respondents were highly constrained by lack of competency strategies;
solutions were thus proffered and established for sustainable development.