Rural Poverty and Social Work Service Delivery in Taraba State, North East Nigeria

Rural poverty in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria is characterised by limited livelihood opportunities, poor infrastructure, and constrained access to social services, creating environments in which social work intervention is urgently needed but scarcely available. This study examines the relationship between rural poverty and social work service delivery in Taraba State, with focus on communities in Jalingo and Ardo-Kola local government areas. A descriptive survey design is adopted, and 90 community members and social workers are sampled through purposive and systematic sampling techniques. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussion guides are used, with data analysed descriptively. The study finds that poverty is deeply entrenched in the communities studied, characterised by subsistence farming, high school dropout rates, and limited access to formal credit. Social work service delivery is constrained by staffing shortages, poor road infrastructure limiting outreach capacity, and inadequate budgets for community-based programmes. Respondents indicate a strong desire for agricultural extension support, adult literacy, and healthcare access, areas where social work-led community development could complement existing government services. Recommendations include investing in rural social work infrastructure, creating mobile social service units to reach remote communities, and including community-based poverty alleviation strategies within social work field practice curricula. Keywords: rural poverty, social work service delivery, Taraba State, community development, livelihood