CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
- Background to the study
The world today enjoys unprecedented progress in development. People are living much longer and better lives, fewer mothers die at childbirth, fewer infants die from preventable diseases, and in the past 50 years poverty has fallen. (UNDP, 2008). Yet, inspite of these laudable achievements, it is acknowledged that the global advances have been uneven, as the global south, that is, the third world countries also known as the underdeveloped countries live in poverty, while the global north, that is, the first world countries also known as developed countries have overcome poverty to a larger extent.
Poverty in Africa is an unfortunate condition that exists throughout Africa. It is a widespread condition that has affected Nigeria and the African continent at large, resulting to Africa being the poorest continent. Poverty is derived from many existing problems and continue to cause devastating effects. Poverty as a problem affecting Nigeria and the African continent is an inherent scourge that has seriously affected Nigeria and the African continent overtime. As a result of the high rate of poverty in Africa, African nations regularly fall to the bottom of any list measuring economic activity, such as per capita income or per capita GDP, despite a wealth of natural resources. African continent is one region that poverty still looms large, such that, the bottom 25 spots of the United Nations (UN) quality of life index are regularly filled by African nations. In 2006, 34 of the 50 nations on the UN list of least developed countries are in Africa. In many nations, the per capita income is often less than $200 U.S. per year, with the vast majority of the population living on much less (UNDP 2010). Nigeria is Africa‟s most populous and diverse nation with an estimated population of over 160 million; over 200 ethnic groups, 500 indigenous languages and two major religions (Christianity and Islam).