Nigeria, like many poor countries, has not been effectively integrated, nor has it
benefited maximally from globalization due to internal and external factors. The
liberalization of economy has indeed created serious distortions that have
marginalized and exposed vulnerable groups, especially women, children youth
and elderly to poverty and deprivation. In the process, family welfare services
have been curtailed and ability of families to provide basic social, reproductive
and economic services to its constituent members severely compromised. Also,
government is gradually withdrawing from implementing cost-recovery strategies
for provision of such services under the tenet of globalization. This study
examined correlates of globalization; the space is for state sovereignty in
managing national economy and its effects on poverty, inequality and family
welfare provision in the context of on-going democratic process in Nigeria. To do
this, ex-post facto research design was used to identify pre- and postglobalization
and structural adjustment programmes in trend of family welfare
social services in Nigeria to determine how to reorient policy and intervention
measures to enhance family welfare programmes and its human development
indicators in the country. 500 house holds from mixed social groups of squatter
communities, poor, low and middle income groups, with 100 house holds
selected through stratified random sampling technique from 2000 House holds
residents of six Local Government Areas of Lagos State namely Bariga, in
Shomolu LGA, Ajegunle in Anjeromi –Ifelodun LGA, Makoko and Akoka in Yaba,
in Mainland LGA, Ogudu, GRA in Kosofe LGA and Mile 2 in Amuwo –Odofin
LGA of Lagos State comprised the participants in the study.The research
instrument comprised of researcher developed, structured and validated Global
Distortions and Family Welfare Questionnaire tagged “GDFWQ” with reliability r =
0.82 and focus group discussions with the participants was used for collection
of quantitative data while qualitative data.
Data analysis is by descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages were
applied for data analysis.Findings includes (a) Family welfare services exist in
Lagos State. The children and elderly receive free health care services, most
mothers pay for treatment while Ante natal care is free. (b)The objectives of
globalization differ from that of Family welfare services: globalization encourages
multi –culturalism, free flow of information, migration, social interaction and
international trade including: Money transfer, human trafficking, Prostitution and
uncontrolled access to internet Pornography and other offensive films and
migration of family members. Family welfare promotes positive cultural values,
COLLABORATION OF EDUCATION FACULTIES IN WEST AFRICA CEFWA 2010
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close association and family care. (c) Globalization promotes behaviour change,
Girls take to prostitution as international business, International Money market
and transfer has increased the risk for international financial fraud ‘419’.
However, the positive aspect is the easy access for fund transfer for both family
welfare and Trade.
(d) Globalization weaken State sovereignty through formulation of
unfavorable government policies concerning family welfare especially in
relation to production, distribution of goods and services. (e) Globalization
promotes free access to drugs.
It was recommended that there should be (i) A review of the Family welfare
objectives to include:
Education of parents on control processes to monitor the internet access for
under age children. (ii)Family welfare policies should advocate free education in
schools, access to media information at rural level to reduce migration.
(iii)Computer literacy should be made compulsory. (iv) Advocacy for increased
access to health care services and government subsidy for medical care.
(v)Mobile phone services should be made more affordable. (vi)Disease
prevention programmes and family planning services should be taken to the
grass root and defaulters penalized.