Obubra Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: An Assessment of the Economic Development of a Local Government Area in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper carried out an empirical investigation into the state of economic development of Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, right from inception in 1902 to date. Economic development was examined from the perspective of poverty reduction, human and infrastructural development. The paper then adopted a descriptive approach and empirically analyzed stylized facts captured in human development index (HDI), Human Poverty Index (HPI) as well as field surveys and personal interviews. The findings showed that the pace of economic development in Obubra is rather slow and not commensurate with the age of the Local Government Area. The paper therefore drew agenda to serve as a road map for sustainable development of Obubra in the future, as follows: full utilization of natural resources for economic development; adoption of sound educational policy; provision of basic infrastructural facilities; fostering economic empowerment/social inclusion and imbibing the principles of environmental sustainability.

Keywords: Obubra; Economic Development; Local Government Area; Cross River State; Nigeria; level of Poverty and Human Development.

Jel Classification Codes: O10, O12, O13, O15 and O18.