CAUSES OF POVERTY AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

 INTRODUCTION

 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria, is the most populous country in Africa with a population of over 162 million, according to the World Bank (2011) data. The country is blessed with abundance of both human and natural resources. Prior to the present civilian regime, the military that was in control for fifteen years (1984-1999) did not put meaningful developmental structures on ground and this gradually deteriorated the living standard. However, different policies, programs and strategies were employed to reposition the economy from being one of the poorest countries of the world to one of the leading economies by the year 2020. Yet, on practical basis, the country lacks the requirements for decent living standard. The Guardian (2005) points that Nigeria is rated one of the world poorest countries. Available data show that the economy ranks between 130-154th position of the Global 172 economies in the world marginal index, and is among the 20 poorest countries in the world in spite of being the giant of Africa in terms of huge human and mineral resources and available.

The country occupies the 7th position as the world’s largest producer of crude oil.

Nigeria as a nation is blessed with many mineral and natural resources. This has made it a wealthy nation; but a wealthy nation with its citizens living in penury. One of the world’s highest growing economy is Nigeria with a growth rate of 7.4% (World Bank, 2014). As Africa’s biggest economy, poverty still remains significant at 33.1%. for a country with massive wealth and a huge population to support commerce, a well-developed  economy, and plenty of natural resources such as oil, (DFID, 2012) the level of poverty remains unacceptable (Nigeria-Country Brief,2012). Nigeria as a country is characterized by low per capita income, highly unequal income/wealth  distribution, low standard of living, lack of infrastructure,  underutilization of natural resources, dualistic economic pattern and most importantly, lack of capital which is reflected by low rate of capital formation as a result of low per capita income, general poverty, low saving and high marginal propensity to consume, unproductive, conspicuous consumption, low marginal efficiency of capital and so on (Uma, Eboh, Obidike and Ogwuru, 2013).

 However, poverty may have been overestimated due to the lack of information on the extremely huge informal sector of the economy, estimated at around 60% more, of the current GDP figures (Yusuf and Aremu, 2014).

Poverty in Nigeria can also be caused by the political instability of the country. However, income inequality, ethnic conflict and political are the three reasons for persistent poverty in the country.

Though several poverty alleviation schemes have been practiced in the nation since independence, these schemes have died along the way because of corruption and poor management. The failure of these schemes have led to increased rate of poverty alongside underdevelopment (Paul and Pauline, myproject.ng, 2018).

The effort of the government has not been enough to reduce poverty. The poor are becoming poorer every year and living standard in the rural areas of the country is shocking (Uma et al., 2013).

 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It is really lamentable to see a country that was given the title the “giant of Africa” becoming an “ant of Africa”. Besides, it is sorrowful to see a country such as Nigeria with abundant natural resources and copious human capital, but with 70 percent of its people living below the poverty line and surviving on less than $1 a day. Poverty has ripped the process of education apart and deprived people from getting proper access to education. Poverty has become the ‘boss’ with the help of corruption determining who should go to school and who should not. Poverty determines children’s faith. Huge numbers of boys are dropping out of school, loaded with evil intention and sophisticated weapons--declaring a war of robbery while girls fail to complete their studies and end up with early pregnancy. Some of them are so victimized by poverty that they have to sell their bodies on campus as a mean of survival. The impact of poverty on education is of great significance and it is tormenting to see students struggling and battling the hardship to study without any support from the government or their parents. It is depressing to see our graduates unemployed after all the hardships of studies and poverty. This has led to the development greater population of poor people in the country. The Nigerian government has turned a deaf ear to the people’s agony and blinded their eyes to the flood of poverty eroding our integrity and existence. Some programs were launched which were supposed to alleviate poverty in the country but the efforts were in vain due to self-interest and corruption. The Nigerian government has failed to realize perhaps realized but ignored the power of education on country development and providing an excellent human capital for the society. It is high time that the Nigerian government took on board” the importance of education since it has been accepted worldwide that education plays a huge role in a country’s development and economy. The Nigerian government should rid their bodies of the virus of corruption and download the latest software of development and anti-poverty programs to combat the poverty to allow every citizen to have access to education.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

The aim of this studies is to critically study the challenges and prospects of oil theft and bunkering on national development in Nigeria. The objectives are

1.     To explore the effect of poverty on education in Nigeria

2.     To investigate how education process and accessibility could alleviate poverty in Nigeria

3.     To find out the causes and effects of poverty and underdevelopment on Nigerians

4.     To proffer solution to the problem of poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria

RESEARCH QUESTION

The following questions were formulated to guide the study to achieve a reliable and valid conclusion;

1.     What are the effect of poverty on education in Nigeria

2.     How can education process and accessibility could alleviate poverty in Nigeria

3.     What are the causes and effects of poverty and underdevelopment on Nigerians

4.     What solution can be proffered to the problem of poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The idea of the research work is to study the causes of poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria. This research work will cover one local government in Ogun state Nigeria, this research will cover the

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In Nigeria poverty and unemployment is really assuming a crisis level. Therefore the study will be relevant in that

·        It will provide an insight into the relevant literature