BACKGROUND
Nigeria has the largest national economy in sub-Saharan Africa, it must overcome
significant development and governance challenges to fulfill its potential. With an
estimated population of 214 million, of which approximately 96 million people live on
less than $1.90 per day, Nigeria is home to the world’s largest population living in extreme
poverty. USAID works in Nigeria to promote broad, inclusive economic growth, food and nutrition
security, a healthier, better educated population, accountable, inclusive, and responsive governance,
gender equality, access to renewable energy, and stability, including humanitarian assistance, in areas
devastated by violent extremism.
In Nigeria over 67 million children lack access to healthcare, education,
clean water and other basic amenities, Nigeria’s future is at risk, according to experts.
Child poverty in the
country poses a major threat to national development if not quickly addressed.
According to the Multidimensional
Poverty Index (MPI) report of the National Bureau of Statistics, about 67.5 million out of 99.6 million children in
Nigeria are multidimensionally poor.
A recent report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
showed that about 20 million children were out of school in Nigeria as at October 2022, up from the 10.5 million recorded by
the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2020.