A recent report, titled *The Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children in Nigeria*, has revealed alarming statistics about the state of child poverty in Nigeria, with 54 percent of Nigerian children classified as multi-dimensionally poor. The report, launched on November 20, 2024, during the World Children’s Day celebration, was developed by the Federal Government with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address critical child welfare issues in the country.
The findings of the report identify several factors contributing to this severe deprivation, including corruption, widespread unemployment, lack of political will, ongoing violence and insurgency, and insufficient investments in essential social sectors. Displacement caused by conflict and violence exacerbates the situation, further depleting already strained resources.
Defining Child Poverty
The report defines child poverty as the deprivation of essential resources required for survival, development, and well-being, such as material, spiritual, and emotional needs. The inability of children to access these resources hampers their ability to achieve their full potential and participate equally in society.
The report highlights seven key indicators used to assess child poverty: health, water, sanitation, nutrition, shelter, education, and information. The multidimensional poverty of children varies significantly across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with stark regional disparities. For example, while Osun State has the lowest poverty incidence at 17.5 percent, Sokoto State has the highest at nearly 90 percent.
Urban-Rural Divide
The report underscores a significant urban-rural divide in child poverty. In urban areas, 29.7 percent of children are multi-dimensionally poor, compared to a staggering 65.7 percent of rural children. States like Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara face the worst levels of deprivation, with over 70 percent of children in these states experiencing severe poverty. In contrast, urban states like Lagos and Edo have poverty rates below 20 percent.
Impact of Education and Household Structure
The analysis also links education and household structure to child poverty. Children in larger households, as well as those with uneducated parents, are more likely to experience deprivation. In particular, children with illiterate mothers face higher rates of poverty than those with educated mothers.
The Almajiri Crisis
One of the most troubling revelations in the report is the plight of Almajiri children—many of whom are forced into itinerant lifestyles, deprived of basic needs such as food, water, sanitation, healthcare, and education. These children often face abuse, exploitation, and are vulnerable to being recruited into armed conflict.
Recommendations for Change
The report calls for urgent actions to address child poverty, stressing the importance of family support, public healthcare, education, and social services that are accessible, inclusive, and affordable. Effective governance at all levels is critical to ensuring equitable distribution of resources, improving household livelihoods, and fostering an environment where children’s rights are protected.
Stakeholders are encouraged to provide sustainable income support to households, ensuring financial barriers do not prevent children from accessing their full potential. The report also advocates for strategic investments in child welfare programs to break the cycle of poverty.
Implications for Nigeria’s Development
The findings of this report offer stark insights into the multi-faceted challenges Nigeria faces in addressing child poverty, which in turn has profound implications for the nation’s broader development.
1. Impact of Worsening Insecurity
The role of violence, insurgency, and displacement in exacerbating child poverty is particularly concerning. Regions affected by insurgencies, such as the Northeast and parts of the Northwest, are seeing a dramatic rise in child poverty. As the conflict deepens, children become both direct victims and indirect casualties, trapped in cycles of deprivation and displacement. This destabilizes communities and creates a generation vulnerable to exploitation, recruitment into militant groups, and an inability to participate in nation-building.
The link between insecurity and child poverty highlights the urgent need for peacebuilding efforts that address the root causes of conflict and the provision of humanitarian aid to displaced families.
2. Economic Growth and Social Investment
Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges, including high unemployment and underinvestment in public services, contribute to a widening gap between rich and poor children. The report’s findings suggest that without substantial investment in healthcare, education, and infrastructure—particularly in rural areas—Nigeria will struggle to achieve sustainable development. Inequality in access to these resources only deepens divisions within society, with the poorest children growing up in environments of neglect, which hampers the country’s future workforce and economic stability.
3. The Role of Governance
Effective governance is central to tackling child poverty in Nigeria. The report underscores the need for a transparent and accountable government that prioritizes child welfare through inclusive policies and the judicious use of resources. This aligns with the broader challenge of improving governance across sectors to ensure that the benefits of development reach those who need them most.
4. The Human Capital Crisis
The failure to address child poverty and related deprivations creates a human capital crisis that will have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s growth and development. Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to face long-term health issues, limited educational opportunities, and diminished prospects for employment, contributing to a cycle of poverty that perpetuates socio-economic inequality. If Nigeria is to harness its demographic dividend, it must address child poverty as a fundamental component of its development strategy.
5. The Almajiri Problem: A Humanitarian and Security Concern
The plight of Almajiri children represents both a humanitarian crisis and a security threat. Their vulnerability to exploitation and recruitment into armed groups during times of conflict poses a significant challenge to national stability. Addressing this issue requires both social interventions to reintegrate Almajiri children into formal education systems and long-term efforts to alleviate poverty in the Northern states.
In conclusion, the high rate of multi-dimensional poverty among Nigerian children highlights critical structural challenges that must be urgently addressed if the country hopes to achieve long-term peace and development. Solutions will require a concerted effort from government, civil society, and international partners to break the cycle of deprivation and provide all children in Nigeria with the opportunity to thrive.
