The Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nigeria (UNEC) Enugu Campus and the ActionAid, have insisted that poverty reduction is possible if governments tackle inequality, corruption, injustice in the country.
They made the call during a Colloquium on Poverty organised by the IDS to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty with the theme “Acting Together to End Poverty” on Monday in Enugu.
Speaking at the event, the ActionAid’s Country Director, Mr Andrew Mamedu, expressed the need for governments to reinvest in people to bring poverty to an end in Nigeria.
According to him, governments must prioritise citizen’s health, education and social protection not as charity, but as fundamental human rights.
Mamedu, represented by ActionAid Head of Programmes, Mr Celestine Odoh, attributed causes of poverty in Nigeria to systemic, weak domestic resource mobilisation, policy gaps, inflation, unstable income, food insecurity and inequality in accessing public services.
“Our extractive industries like oil, gas and minerals hold both risk and opportunity. If well governed, can generate revenue, jobs and climate-resilient infrastructure but if mismanaged, will continue to fuel poverty and exclusion.
“Let us demand governance that put people first. Let us rethink our budgetary pattern; it should be people centred and meet the need of the poor. Let us ensure that national wealth serves the public good, not a privileged few.
“We believe that ending poverty is possible only if we confront inequality, empower citizens and strengthen institutions to serve everyone, not just the powerful,” he said.
The Director of IDS, Prof. Ben Nwosu, disclosed that the challenges of poverty made the United Nations to declare Oct.17 every year as the World Poverty Eradication Day, since 1992.
He said that in 2025 that 808 million people or 9.9 percent of the world population live in extreme poverty, adding that the more disturbing fact drew from Nigeria reality as the World Bank in the past week revealed that 139 million out of 215 million Nigerians live in poverty.
Nwosu said that the figure translated to a staggering 65 per cent of the population and invited deepest concerns from all levels.
“We have adopted this day as our annual flagship event to join in sharing experiences and insights on progresses achieved, challenges ahead and lessons learned in confronting poverty.
“In IDS we constantly reflect on the challenges around access to food and nutrition for the population, healthcare, access to safe water, education or functional literacy, basic infrastructure, security among others.
“The status of these indicators of material condition in Nigeria has been on a slippery slope and deeply concerning,” Nwosu added.
The director, who explained that the institute was established to contribute to economic policy and development through research, commended ActionAid for its support and collaboration in seeing that the event came to reality.
In her remarks, the Chief of Field Services UNICEF Nigeria and Officer in Charge of UNICEF Field Office Enugu, Mrs Judith Leveillee, said the organisation believed that no child should grow up in poverty and that no family should have to struggle alone.
She also said that tackling poverty demanded more than increasing income as it calls for holistic support systems that protect, nurture, and empower individuals and families.
“That is why we are committed to supporting families and governments in building inclusive systems that not only measure poverty but actively work to reduce it.
“We also work hand in hand with government partners to strengthen social protection systems, making them more inclusive, child-sensitive, and responsive,” she said.
Dr Friday Ohuche, the Chief Economic Adviser to Abia State Governor, Mr Alex Otti, noted that poverty persisted in Nigeria because the rich did not take care of the poor and leaders detached from the poor.
Ohuche, who is the keynote speaker, however, emphasised the need for governments to identify the real cause of poverty and tackle them by empowering its citizens.
