September 5, 2024 marks the International Day of Charity, a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness and mobilise people, NGOs and stakeholders globally to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities. Interestingly, this date was chosen to commemorate the death anniversary of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who passed away on September 5, 1997. Born in 1910 as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, Mother Teresa dedicated her life to supporting the poor and the dying in India. Her tireless efforts were recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work in combating poverty and distress, which she viewed as a threat to global peace.
Back to the International Day of Charity…
This year’s theme, ‘Global Solidarity to Eradicate Poverty’, resonates deeply with me both personally and professionally. It aligns closely with the mission of the Nigeria Youth SDGs Network, which works to empower young people to challenge the structures that limits their ability to lead and thrive. Our work focuses on removing barriers and creating opportunities for youth to join or lead initiatives aimed at education & capacity development, employment & livelihoods, and civic participation to achieve sustainable development.
On September 3rd, 2024, I participated as a discussant in a webinar hosted by the Institute of Development Studies which examined research on poverty dynamics in Nigeria. The study revealed that as of 2018/2019, 40 per cent of Nigerians – about 83 million people – were living in poverty. This was before the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which have disrupted global business value chains. I estimate that currently, at least 60 – 70 percent of Nigeria’s 200 million+ population are experiencing multidimensional poverty. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) states that to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, Nigeria must lift at least 10 million people out of poverty annually starting from 2020. However, this goal seems unattainable as data shows that the poverty rate in Nigeria has remained constant, with tens of thousands more people slipping into poverty every week.
What could be the reasons for this negative progression?
First would be the COVID19 pandemic. Its economic impact is estimated to have driven about 10.9 million Nigerians into poverty by 2022.
A second contributing factor is runaway inflation. Ineffective government monetary policies and conflicts in the North East have squeezed Nigerians’ incomes, potentially causing more people to fall into poverty. Reports indicate that Nigerians spend more than 50 per cent of their income on food, compared to 6.7 per cent for their counterparts in the United States.
A third factor is the currency devaluation and cashless policy which occurred between 2022-2023. These measures sent many Nigerians into multidimensional poverty, with many losing their livelihoods because of the inability to access cash for their small businesses.
It is important to highlight the very low-income equality in Nigeria. The national minimum wage was recently increased from 30,000 naira (~USD 18.18) to 70,000 naira (USD 42.42) per month. However, due to the high cost of living, this change has had little effect on improving the outlook of poverty for the average Nigerian.
Although Nigeria has a social protection policy covering conditional cash transfers, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) aka ‘trader moni’, and other initiatives to address income poverty, rising population and coordination/accountability issues have made implementation difficult.
How can civil society organisations support the government in the drive to eradicate poverty in Nigeria?
I will share five pathways.
First is in monitoring, accountability and learning. Civil society can oversee the implementation of existing poverty reduction programmes, ensuring that resources reach those who need them most. They can also contribute to research and data collection efforts to better understand poverty dynamics and inform effective policy interventions.
Second is in policy advocacy. Using insights gleaned from monitoring efforts, CSOs can campaign for targeted policies and programmes that cater to the needs of poor people. This is crucial as poverty adversely impacts human rights and can negatively affect self esteem.
Third is in community engagement, and the necessary impact-focused work with communities and trade groups to adopt sustainable livelihood practices. This involves capacity building to help people understand current socioeconomic situations, explore healthy alternatives to their current lifestyle, and improve their ability to access government services to strengthen resilience.
Fourth is to advocate for improved service delivery, with a focus on equity and justice beyond token economic improvements to ensure no one is left behind. In Nigeria, where access to quality healthcare and education is often a luxury, providing opportunities for marginalised groups is crucial.
Fifth and final pathway is to foster collaboration and leverage partnerships between stakeholders such as the private sector, international organisations, and the government to ensure that interventions addressing poverty are complementary and effective.
All of these efforts can significantly amplify the government’s initiatives and reduce the spread of poverty in Nigeria.
How can you as a young person, take action to eradicate poverty?
- Volunteer: Sign up to support food banks and initiatives that assist people impacted by poverty.
- Donate: Contribute to programmes and causes targeting marginalised communities.
- Raise Awareness: Amplify content from organisations highlighting the impact of poverty on social media and other platforms.
- Educate yourself: Take courses on the effects of poverty and learn how to effectively support those living in poverty.
- Advocate: Write to your elected representatives about the rising cost of living and demand actions to support people experiencing poverty.
There are many other innovative ways young Nigerians can participate in community development, and the Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) provides additional support and guidance to help youth-led initiatives thrive.
…This article was written by Joshua Alade, Founder of NGYouthSDGs…
