RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS' SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND AND COPING STRATEGIES IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

The study was a correlation that determined the relationship between internally displaced persons' socio-economic background and coping strategies inBomo State, Nigeria. Population of the study comprised of 187,963 IDPs in Borno State, Nigeria. However, 330 IDPs were sampled from 6 of the government designated IDP Camps in Jere local government and Maiduguri Metropolis. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted in picking sample made up of 180 (54.5%) males and 150 (45.5%) females. Researchers' authored open questionnaire tagged "Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ)" was the instrument used to elicit data for the study. The instrument was divided into tzoo parts. Part "A" sought information on demographic characteristics of the respondents such as age, gender, marital status, occupation, home town and educational qualification while Part "B" elicited data oncoping strategies of the internally displaced persons in Borno State, Nigeria.Face and content validity of the instrument was .84 and the reliability coefficient was .91 which was considered suitable, adequate and adjudged appropriate for what the study purports to achieve. Four objectives, one research question and three null-hypotheses piloted the study. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages mid rank ordering were used to answer the research question zohileinferential statistic of. chisquare (x2) was used in testing the null-hypothesesat 0.05 alpha level. Findings of the study revealed cap making and washing, street begging, petrol dispensing, shop attendance, blocks making, bricks laying and bicycle repairs were some of the coping strategies engaged in by the internally displaced persons based on their gender, educational qualifications and marital status in Borno State, Nigeria. Provision of entrepreneurial centers and vocational counselling serviceson regular bases were some of the counselling implications proffered. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the Borno State Government should through Ministries of Works and Reconstructions intensify efforts towards rebuilding skills acquisition centers to enhance coping strategies of the displaced persons