Poverty, an African Epidemic: Empirical Evidence of Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines poverty as an African epidemic, with an empirical evidence of Nigeria. Poverty unarguably remains a global phenomenon that is complex and multi-dimensional in nature. Poverty is an economic situation where a household income is inadequate to meet the minimum nutritional need for growth and long-term survival (World Bank, 1996). The primary source of data was adopted via questionnaire and oral interview. A simple correlation technique was adopted to address the significant relationship among the responses of the respondents gathered though the questionnaire to derive logical conclusion. The study concludes that the blame on poverty is placed on modes of designing and implementing developmental programmes, which are seen to have failed to take the basic needs of the poor into account and historical factors together with the existing social structures that have developed from them. The paper further discovered lots of disparities in people’s income, gender, health, education etc. The study however, recommends that government should articulate a bold vision and establish concrete targets for improving and saving the lives of those threatened by diseases and hunger by way of introducing grants to ‘senior citizens’ – old people, providing monthly allowance to them, ensuring support for children that are orphan, homeless, and even with disabilities etc., in all areas of life. The study further recommends that government in all levels should be identified with the importance of using critical statistical data to corroborate progress report in order to assist in monitoring and implementing poverty alleviation programmes initiated by federal government, and to meet the target of Financial System Strategy, FSS 2020 and Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) by 2015.