Tag Archive for: Poverty In Nigeria

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How Entrepreneurship is Driving Poverty Reduction in Nigeria

How Entrepreneurship is Driving Poverty Reduction in NigeriaIn the shadow of Nigeria’s poverty statistics, where nearly two-thirds of citizens live on less than $2 a day, a quieter revolution is underway. In the dry-season heat of Benue State, a farmer rises at dawn to tend his maize and guinea corn. After each harvest, he sells part of his yield, feeds the rest to his livestock and uses their manure to fertilize the next crop. These animals double as savings and are sold once school fees are due. He has no insurance, no grant and no bank account, yet this quiet rhythm of work sustains his family.

Across Nigeria, millions live the same pattern of improvised survival. They are market women in Akwa Ibom, backyard gardeners in Borno and roadside tailors in Lagos. Their livelihoods may be invisible to the formal economy, yet they are fueling what researchers at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) describe in their 2025 policy briefing, Growth from Below: Poverty Reduction beyond Social Protection in Nigeria, as the country’s most overlooked engine for poverty reduction.

Poverty Reduction in Nigeria

Nigeria’s economy, though the fourth largest in Africa by GDP, continues to grow too slowly to match its expanding population.

Since 2014, GDP per capita has stagnated, and inflation remains high, driven by soaring food and fuel prices. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects a modest 3% growth in 2025, below the continental average of 4%. For many Nigerians, these numbers translate into hunger. “Over a decade, Nigeria has experienced various shocks—political conflict, climate recurrence, floods, droughts and multiple economic crises,” Vidya Diwakar, deputy director at IDS’s Chronic Poverty Advisory Network, told The Borgen Project in a Zoom interview. “What we found is that many people tend to escape poverty through these informal investments.”

In 2023, the federal government declared a “state of emergency on food security” and launched large-scale farming initiatives. Dozens of programs, including MSME funds, skill-up training and tractor schemes, were rolled out to stimulate production.

But Dr. Stanley Ukpai, a CPAN researcher, told The Borgen Project in a Zoom interview that such interventions often overlook the informal economy. “We tend to see this approach to poverty alleviation where the government is making large investments,” he said, “but many times these investments don’t translate to substantial changes at the community and grassroots levels.”

The Rise of Growth from Below

That reality is at the heart of new IDS research, Growth from Below: Poverty Reduction beyond Social Protection in Nigeria (2025). Kareem Abdulrasaq, lead author of the study, told The Borgen Project in an interview: “There is no assistance; they still do it by themselves,” he explained. “It’s forms of agriculture, petty trading, livestock rearing and food processing—activities families created to survive, whether during a crisis or after it. This is what ‘growth from below’ really means.”

The study argues that household-level economic activity, not top-down welfare, has become Nigeria’s most effective engine of poverty reduction.

In Benue State, some farmers reinvest crop income to buy land and build homes. In Borno, a widow displaced by Boko Haram began growing vegetables to feed her children and sell at the market. In Akwa Ibom, a mother installed a palm oil press in her compound, turning a family tradition into income.

Across Nigeria, informal entrepreneurship functions as a safety net where formal systems fail. The IDS research highlights how these forms of resilience are now key drivers of poverty reduction. “Informal economies have historically been viewed as a cushion during crises,” Diwakar told The Borgen Project, adding that success should be measured by whether such enterprises enable sustained upward mobility through greater productivity.

Women at the Center

From roadside vendors to small processors, women make up the majority of micro-entrepreneurs. Yet policy is rarely on their side.

“The government is doing quite a lot,” said Ukpai, “but at the top level, there are these processes that don’t translate down to the communities. There’s a disconnect between policies on paper and real implementation at the grassroots.”

The IDS brief underscores this imbalance. While some social protection programs have offered women cash transfers or training, their coverage is inconsistent and short-lived. When the payments stop, many families fall back into poverty. Without legal recognition or access to formal finance, women rely on informal loans, often with high interest, to sustain their businesses.

One Akwa Ibom entrepreneur captured the dilemma: “I struggled even though I did not have money; I borrowed from somebody and installed the machine in my compound.” Her determination mirrors thousands of others whose work quietly sustains families and local markets.

Researchers agree that empowering women is one of the most effective paths out of poverty. The brief calls for fast-tracking the Women’s Rights and Inheritance Bill, enforcing joint land titling and ensuring that at least 40% of MSME grants go to women-led firms.

“Many young women during the cashless policy and fuel subsidy lost their capital,” Diwakar explained, “from which they could have invested or diversified their income.”

From Taxation to Support

Despite official rhetoric celebrating entrepreneurship, many small traders face harassment, multiple taxes and bureaucratic hurdles that stifle rather than support them.

“We come to the realization that we must support these groups to deepen their productivity, as opposed to revenue extraction, which is what we see,” said Ukpai. “If you have a little kiosk or a side shed where you run your informal business,” he added, “the community tax authorities are on your neck, the state tax authorities on your neck, even local touts want something. So even when there’s meager income, it’s dissipated through multiple taxation.”

The IDS team recommends “light-touch” registration systems, presumptive tax holidays for new micro-firms and bundled packages combining training, working capital and insurance. Such steps, they argue, would not only legitimize informal enterprises but also make them more resilient to shocks.

A Grassroots Blueprint for Change

The lesson emerging from Nigeria’s experience is clear: development can grow from below, but only if the state stops standing in its way. Supporting informal entrepreneurs, especially women, means acknowledging them as central to national growth, not as side characters in need of rescue.

As Ukpai put it, “For the government to take notice, it must recognize that people at community level already have strategies to escape poverty. Policy must meet them where they are—in the farms, the workshops and the markets.”

For Diwakar, poverty reduction in Nigeria “isn’t just about handouts; it’s about recognizing the systems of resilience that already exist and building policies that reinforce them,” she told The Borgen Project in a Zoom interview. With donor fatigue growing and global development budgets tightening, Nigeria’s “growth from below” offers a blueprint for sustainable, community-led development.

– Shannon Garrido

Shannon is based in Brighton, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Education in Nigeria: Children in Poverty

Education in NigeriaPoverty in Nigeria is one of the main barriers preventing children from accessing education, as many families cannot afford the school fees and materials needed for their children to attend school. As a result, countless children are out of school and trapped in cycles of poverty.

Children in Poverty

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that 54% of children in Nigeria are multidimensionally poor, meaning they face more than one form of deprivation. World Bank data further shows that child poverty levels exceed adult poverty levels. Children in northern Nigeria face particularly high rates of poverty. Additionally, parents’ education levels strongly correlate with the likelihood of their families living in poverty and deprivation.

Children from impoverished households are less likely to receive a quality education because they cannot afford essential school materials. Data shows that underserved children in Nigeria achieve only 19.7% learning compared to 49.4% among children from wealthier families.

Children Attending Schools in Nigeria

Violence in northeastern Nigeria has created widespread insecurity, making it difficult for children in the region to access education. The conflict has forced schools to close and displaced 3.3 million people, nearly half of whom are children. For girls, the situation is even more challenging, as cultural norms often prioritize boys’ education.

The Education Policy and Data Center reports that 33% of primary school–aged children in Nigeria are out of school, with girls disproportionately affected. According to the Malala Fund, nearly five million adolescent girls and a total of 8.97 million girls are out of school in the country. This makes young girls more vulnerable to child marriage.

The INEMO Foundation

The INEMO Foundation is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that believes education is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty in Nigeria. It directly supports families and schools to help keep children in school.

The INEMO Foundation was founded by Dr. Opeyemi Adeosun, the Executive Director and his wife, Sophia Inemotimi Adeosun, in Abuja, Nigeria. Adeosun was inspired by the novel “Only God Can Save Nigeria: What a Myth?”, which motivated him to help children in his community attend school in 2017.

After speaking with the novel’s author, Adeosun was invited to share his story on the author’s platform. This appearance attracted sponsors to his work, enabling him and his wife to help 62 children attend school in 2018. The couple officially registered the INEMO Foundation as an NGO in 2019 to continue and expand their efforts.

The Borgen Project spoke with Adeosun, who shared that he is a public health practitioner and wanted to help children in his community access education. “The education aspect has been the main part we focus on,” Adeosun said.

Reviving Schools, Restoring Hope

The Foundation’s latest project involved renovating a school in Keffi, Nasarawa State. “The Bank of Industry gave us some money to refurbish and renovate some of the classrooms,” Adeosun explained. “According to the school’s headmistress, since the renovations, they have seen more children enrolling and an increase in admissions.”

“That’s the biggest achievement we’ve had in any school,” says Adeosun, referring to the school’s renovation. The Foundation not only refurbished the school but also installed functional toilets and a reliable water supply for the community to use.

The Foundation also focuses on supporting local mothers and this approach has shown positive results. The financial assistance provided has helped cover school fees for many families. “Inflation has increased and many parents cannot afford this. So instead of the situation getting better, it’s actually getting worse,” Adeosun said.

“Poverty does not know religion, does not know ethnicity in Nigeria, but mostly those who are not educated, because the majority of the parents of these children in poverty I’m talking about are not educated,” says Adeosun as he expresses how uplifting education can be from poverty. For Adeosun, education in Nigeria is a key tool to help children escape poverty. So far, the Foundation has supported 300 children in returning to school.

Charities Working To Improve Education Access in Nigeria

Britain-Nigeria Educational Trust (BNET) is a charity that provides funding toward the advancement of education in Nigeria. The charity aims to support the training and development of teachers in Nigeria while also maintaining funding for other projects in education.

The BNET Trust has helped many schools and one of the projects it has given funding to is the Pacelli School for Blind and Partially Sighted Children. BNET’s funding has been significant as it enabled the school to buy a JAWS screen reader for the blind and partially sighted children. This has given children better resources fitted to their needs.

The Malala Fund is an international organization that aims to provide quality education for every girl. Founded by activist Malala Yousafzai, the Fund invests in local education advocates who can help to shape policies for girls’ education.

The priorities for the Malala Fund regarding Nigeria are to strengthen the right to education for girls who are married and young mothers. Another priority is to enhance the funding for girls in secondary schools. The organization wants to increase education funding at the federal and state levels so that girls in Nigeria receive better education.

UNICEF has reported that one in four Nigerian children is out of school and deserves to be educated. The charity has found that 73% of children aged between 7 and 14 do not have foundational reading skills. There is a significant gap between primary and secondary schools, with a lack of infrastructure, leaving only one secondary school for every five primary schools.

UNICEF aims to reach several goals for education in Nigeria by 2027 and one of these is to give 10 million children access to education. Another aim is to provide 4.8 million children with access to vital learning materials and for 22 states to increase and scale up their approach to literacy and numeracy learning.

– Alice Haston

Alice is based in Liverpool, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Dr. Opeyemi Adeosun

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How Catholic Organizations Work To Help Fight Poverty in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing African countries with a rising population of more than 220 million people. It also has one of the world’s largest young populations. Nigeria has a large Catholic population of more than 35 million people.

Nigeria is a country that is rich with natural resources such as crude petroleum, natural gas, gold and fertilizers. However, while it may be the largest growing African nation, more than half of the population lives in poverty. The rural parts of Nigeria are the most affected.

More than 31 million people are affected by food insecurity in Nigeria. Diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS have been widespread in the country. Nigeria is ranked fourth in the world for the highest cases of HIV/AIDS, with more than two million cases. The country has more than 68 million cases of malaria.

Catholic organizations such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Catholic Caritas Foundations of Nigeria (CCFN) work alongside the Catholic Church of Nigeria and international organizations to quell poverty. They continue adding resources to improve the livelihood of Nigerians and bring down cases of HIV/AIDS and malaria.

Nigeria’s Impoverished Population

Nigeria faces a longstanding issue with poverty. The widespread poverty problems derive from government corruption, food insecurity, lack of education, poor access to health care, displacement, homicides, economic instability and job insecurity. The World Bank reported that, “more than half of Nigerians (52.5%) are estimated to live in poverty in 2025.”

The youngest population, ranging from 14 to 65 years old, makes up more than 70% of Nigerians experiencing poverty. Many Nigerians are living below the poverty line on $2.15. In Nigeria and abroad, nonprofit organizations, religious groups and advocacy groups work to support Nigerians experiencing poverty and other socioeconomic issues.

Catholic Relief Services

CRS is a global humanitarian agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S., assisting vulnerable people worldwide. Throughout Africa, CRS focuses on three important areas: disaster relief, health and agriculture. Since 1960, the Catholic organization has worked alongside local Nigerian advocacy groups, faith-based communities and institutions to reduce poverty, viral diseases and instability in almost all 36 states.

CRS has been active in helping to provide stability and improve living conditions for Nigerians in rural regions. CRS created the Stabilization and Reconciliation in the Lake Chad Region (STaR) Project. The project aims to improve access to basic human resources such as water, health, markets, education and other important needs for more than 59,000 Nigerians throughout 90 communities.

The project would create economic opportunities and expand the people’s livelihood within the region. This program, funded by the KFW Development Bank, was created to help ” recover and build the resilience of vulnerable populations,” impacted by the Lake Chad Basin’s climate issues and living conditions. Vulnerable Nigerians, such as women, children and refugees, will receive the most aid from this project.

CRS continues to strengthen Nigeria’s health system by supporting programs such as the Global Fund Malaria Grant. This global public–private partnership works to reduce HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. In Nigeria, the Catholic organization distributed “[more than] 75 million long-lasting insecticidal nets” to keep families, children and pregnant women secure and prevent contamination from mosquitoes with malaria. CRS has long supported malaria prevention methods and ways to reduce the disease in Nigeria’s households, communities, hospitals and clinics.

Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria

CCFN is a specialized agency formed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in September 2010. Its role is to assist with humanitarian aid and development in rural regions of Nigeria. CCFN collaborates with more than 300 faith-based organizations around Nigeria. This Catholic organization partners alongside CRS, working toward the same goals and projects to assist Nigerians in meeting their basic needs. The CCFN is part of the branch of Caritas Africa, which has branches throughout the continent.

CCFN started a program called the Management Information Project in March 2025. This project is funded by the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The project aims to gather information on management services to support rural areas that need aid in the Nigerian states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. The project targets food insecurity, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and nutrition services.

– Gene A. Lambey, Jr.

Gene is based in Washington, DC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Education in Nigeria

Education Struggles in Nigeria According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), more than 10 million Nigerian children are not receiving formal education — the highest number in the world. Poverty, conflict and gender inequality are the biggest barriers keeping kids out of classrooms.

Causes of Educational Struggles in Nigeria

  • Lack of funding. Long-standing corruption within Nigeria, most prominently academic misconduct, defined as any action that gains or attempts to gain within an educational setting to gain an unfair academic advantage, has consistently undermined education funding in Nigeria. This has resulted in poor infrastructure, such as unsafe classrooms, limited access to clean water, untrained teachers, a lack of quality teaching materials and frequent failures to pay teachers’ allowances, all of which hinder children’s ability to secure adequate education.
  • Armed attackers. In northern Nigeria, armed attackers have attacked schools, leaving families afraid to send their children to class. “In 2022 and 2023, attacks on schools in Nigeria persisted in the context of armed conflict in northeastern states due to the presence of nonstate armed groups, as well as armed violence in northwestern and northcentral states due to pastoralist-farmer tensions.” Children ultimately suffer the most from these attacks, leaving them in a state of distress and unsafe when trying to access education. However, organizations including “Save the Children” have been working to resolve this issue and have provided 47 million children with education, medicine and food globally.
  • Girls’ vulnerabilities. Girls are especially at risk, as child marriage and household labor often hinder their educational needs. According to reports, 4 out of 10 girls marry before the age of 18 (44%) in Nigeria, totaling more than 24 million child brides. This prevents them from accessing education as they are forced to take on adult responsibilities, thereby removing their focus from necessary education. This high percentage of child marriage is detrimental to young girls, as it “violates the fundamental rights and freedoms of young girls.” Moreover, organizations supported by the United States (U.S.) foreign aid, such as UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education, are working to address these challenges. They help rebuild schools, provide learning materials and promote safe, equal access to education for girls.

Ongoing Efforts to Refocus Attention on Education

Recognizing the urgent need to tackle the issue, representatives from multiple sectors came together at the “Child Marriage Stakeholders’ Consultations” to discuss long-term strategies for ending child marriage in Nigeria.

Participants pledged to work toward eliminating child marriage nationwide by 2030 through coordinated efforts and new policies and resources at the federal, state and community levels. A key initiative introduced in Nigeria to expand access to education, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program, aims to provide free schooling to every child. It has shown success by improving access to basic education and reducing the number of children out of school. According to the United Nations (U.N.), primary school enrollment rates in Nigeria increased from 57% in 1999 to 71% in 2018. Efforts are also underway to increase investments, focusing on digital inclusion and the development of 21st-century skills, including AI integration.

Empowering Nigeria’s Future Through Education

By supporting education in Nigeria, the U.S. not only empowers millions of young people but also invests in a more stable and prosperous partner in Africa. Strong education systems reduce poverty, boost economies and help communities resist extremist groups, with benefits that extend far beyond Nigeria’s borders. In addition, reducing high levels of child marriage allows children to refocus on the education they need for a brighter future.

– Carise Wallbank

Carise is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Silicon Valleys of Africa: The Burgeoning Tech Hubs in Africa

Tech Hubs in AfricaThe media often depicts Africa as a deeply impoverished continent, where governments struggle to provide basic resources for their populations and rely heavily on Western aid. While Africa does suffer from some of the highest rates of poverty in the world, the entire picture is multifaceted.

It is an incredibly resource-rich continent that has been the victim of colonial exploitation. While the imagery of malnourished children with bloated stomachs draws sympathy, it does not tell the whole story. In truth, there are many thriving industries and burgeoning hubs in Africa.

Africa is the fastest-growing continent in terms of population and aid creates a pathway for future profitable trade relations. Aid should not focus only on short-term fixes but also on long-term paths to autonomy for African nations. Many cities are already prosperous markets that foster innovation. Here are three burgeoning tech hubs in Africa:

Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos has already established itself as one of the leading tech hubs of the future, not just in Africa, but globally. It ranked first in the Rising Stars category of Dealroom.co’s 2025 Tech Ecosystem Index, with a 1100% growth rate since 2017. There are five unicorns, private companies with valuations of more than $1 billion, based in Lagos.

The city provides a centralized market, as most industries are focused on the neighborhoods of Marina and Victoria Island, as opposed to the split markets of Johannesburg and Cape Town. Infrastructure currently poses a challenge to expansion in Lagos. It is difficult to “find anywhere in Lagos that would take 3,000 people in one go.” In response, Tech entrepreneur Iyin Aboyeji is building a 72,000-square-foot business park near the metro area.

Education is one of the foundations of upward mobility. Providing equal access to education is a way to improve the lives of those suffering and ensure that a nation’s best talent is placed in the proper roles. The Global Partnership for Education grant is a partnership between the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Nigeria’s Ministry of Education that provides funding for education initiatives within Nigeria.

The program has pledged $100 million in funding from 2024 to 2027. Some of its priorities include improving school infrastructure and teacher training in various facets of education.

Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi, also known as Silicon Savannah, is one of the burgeoning tech hubs in Africa and has cemented itself as East Africa’s center of innovation. The international community is taking notice of Nairobi, as Microsoft has just invested $1 billion in a data center in Kenya. This will provide cloud computing through Microsoft Azure to East Africa.

M-Pesa, a mobile payment enterprise, is largely responsible for Nairobi’s rise as a tech hub. In 2007, it pioneered a secure platform that enabled people to transfer money using only their cellphones. The fintech sector has continued to expand, with other companies, such as M-Kopa, Lendable and Tala, basing their operations in Nairobi.

Incubators have also found a foothold in Silicon Savannah. The U.S. Embassy operates tech hubs for entrepreneurs who may not have proper access to technology. Both founded in 2010, iHub and Nailab are two incubators intended to accelerate African innovation and improve Kenya’s economic prosperity by bringing together creative thinkers and providing proper mentorship.

Programs that foster innovation will help maintain Nairobi’s growth and its status as one of the burgeoning tech hubs in Africa.

Kigali, Rwanda

Although currently a smaller market than the previous two cities, Kigali remains one of the burgeoning tech hubs in Africa. Unlike Nairobi’s private enterprise-driven expansion, Kigali maintains substantial support from Rwanda’s government. There has been a state-led effort for “digital transformation.” 4G or 5G currently enables 95% of the city.

The Kigali Innovation City is a business hub that houses universities, incubators and office spaces for emerging tech companies. Additionally, the city hosts the Africa Tech Summit. However, the city faces challenges like the infamous “brain drain.”

Because Kigali’s innovation efforts are public endeavors, salaries remain more lucrative in cities such as Nairobi and much of Kigali’s top talent is being lured out of Rwanda. The solution, once again, lies in education. In conjunction with Andela’s coding boot camp, institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University and African Leadership University produce approximately 2,600 tech graduates annually.

The Timbuktu Fund, sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to foster startups around Africa. Programs like these help drive up wages and economic growth in places like Kigali, which in turn helps the city maintain its workforce.

Conclusion

Lagos, Nairobi, and Kigali show that Africa is redefining its story, from dependency to innovation. With growing investment, talent and education initiatives, these hubs are positioning the continent as a rising force in global technology.

– Patrick Feeney

Patrick is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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US Aid to Nigeria: $32.5 Million To Fight Hunger

US Aid to NigeriaIn 2025, the U.S. approved $32.5 million in humanitarian aid to Nigeria to respond to one of the country’s worst hunger crises in decades. The U.S. aid to Nigeria will reach more than 764,000 individuals. It will deliver food supplies, nutritional supplements for malnourished children and support for pregnant and breastfeeding women. This package underscores the U.S.’s continued role in addressing global poverty, even amid broader cuts to foreign aid.

By targeting food insecurity in conflict-affected regions, the initiative highlights how American humanitarian assistance provides immediate relief while promoting stability and advancing long-term development goals.

The Hunger Crisis in Nigeria

Nigeria is experiencing a severe hunger crisis, with 30.6 million people unable to obtain enough food. On top of that, 17 million children are suffering from malnutrition, the second-highest number in the world. About 300,000 children are at risk as a result of the closure of more than 150 nutrition clinics in the states of Borno and Yobe due to a lack of funding.

Supply chains have been disrupted by insecurity. Many families can no longer afford the high cost of food due to inadequate infrastructure, high transportation expenses and significant post-harvest losses of up to 50%. Despite these obstacles, farmers continue planting in areas of relative stability. Local food is being processed and sold by women-led projects and youth-led logistics projects are starting to take shape.

U.S. aid to Nigeria will reach those who need it most. It will also strengthen local markets and agricultural systems by combining locally sourced food, cash-based assistance and targeted support for displaced populations.

The World Food Programme’s Role in Nigeria

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian organization in the world. WFP helps communities recover from economic shocks, natural disasters and conflict while providing life-saving food assistance during emergencies. WFP works to improve nutrition, support smallholder farmers and strengthen local food systems in more than 120 countries.

Where possible, WFP pairs short-term assistance with livelihood programs. These programs help displaced people develop food processing, aquaculture and tailoring skills, providing them with opportunities for long-term stability. Beyond these, WFP coordinates logistics for more than 90 humanitarian organizations, provides secure communications and emergency connectivity. It also manages the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service to deliver relief supplies and personnel to isolated communities.

WFP is primarily funded by voluntary donations from governments, organizations, businesses and individuals. The nonprofit collaborates with the government, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), U.N. agencies and private sector partners to reach vulnerable populations in Nigeria. The organization has effectively decreased child malnutrition in Nigeria and offers emergency food assistance.

WFP works alongside the Nigerian government to strengthen food security policies, expand the country’s nationally owned school feeding program and build shock-responsive social protection systems.

How US Aid to Nigeria Will Address the Hunger Crisis

Despite significant cuts to U.S. foreign aid, Washington has made a new commitment. This support targets Nigeria’s northeast and northwest regions, where conflict and displacement have deepened food insecurity for hundreds of thousands. The funding arrives at a critical moment, as the WFP had warned of suspending operations due to resource shortages.

Nigeria has “unprecedented” levels of hunger, with millions at risk of malnutrition, according to WFP’s Regional Director for West Africa, Margot van der Velden. By channeling resources through WFP, the U.S. contribution helps stabilize communities on the brink of famine while reinforcing broader international efforts to support Nigeria in its hunger crisis.

– Isaac Nelson

Isaac is based in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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From Streets to Schools: The Uweza Foundation

Uweza FoundationIn Nairobi’s largest informal settlement, Kibera, people prioritize survival over education. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties, a significant change is taking place due to the influence of mentoring. The sponsorship and guidance programs run by the Uweza Foundation, led by locals, assist community members and former street youth in becoming agents of education and hope. This tale of perseverance is based on the idea that change can happen when someone in your shoes takes your hand.

The Educational Environment in Kibera

Kibera, home to thousands of Kenyans, has served as a symbol of East African urban poverty for many years. Although elementary and secondary education is legally free, many children are forced to drop out due to hidden costs that families must pay for supplies, uniforms and school-related fees.

Approximately 65 students are receiving academic scholarships through Uweza’s Sponsorship Program; many of these students complete their primary, secondary and even post-secondary education.

However, stronger statistics show how big the issue really is. According to research, more than one million Kenyan children do not attend primary school, the ninth-highest rate in the world. Despite nearly universal attendance, roughly one-third of teenage girls in Kibera are at least one grade behind, highlighting the academic disparities associated with instability and poverty.

Why From Streets to Schools Matters

Hope becomes real for kids when they see someone from their own neighborhood who has walked a similar path, trusted it and used education to succeed. The significance of that lived experience extends far beyond standardized interventions.

The bond between mentor and mentee acts as a catalyst, bridging gaps in resilience, academic engagement and confidence. Programs that embody this, such as Uweza’s, have a greater capacity to foster lasting transformation.

Holistic Model of the Uweza Foundation

The Uweza Foundation, which was founded in 2008 and is headed by actress Rooney Mara, gets its name from the Swahili word meaning “opportunity, ability and power.” Through mentorship, sports, art, education and life skills initiatives, it aims to empower women and youth in Kibera.

The Uweza Foundation offers scholarships through its sponsorship program that cover tuition, supplies, uniforms and even boarding school if necessary. Life skills workshops and mentorship from the Uweza Foundation accompany these scholarships.

Backed by Research and Impact

Studies show that after-school programs and mentorship significantly improve learning and school retention, especially for girls in informal settlements. One pilot study found that underprivileged girls benefit from mentoring in core subjects as they transition to secondary school.

Similarly, the Adolescent Girls Initiative–Kenya (AGI-K) trial in Kibera showed that adolescent girls achieved better long-term results when education was combined with interventions related to wealth, health and violence prevention. This strategy underscores the need for multifaceted support, a model Uweza already provides, even though its work is not solely on mentoring.

Looking Ahead

The Uweza Foundation is demonstrating in Kibera that change is not only possible but is actually taking place when mentorship that is compassionate and rooted in the community is combined with educational access. This remind us that a child’s potential is based on our ability to help them, not their geographical boundaries.

– Kyra Cribbs

Kyra Cribbs is based in Charleston, SC and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Clean Water Access in Nigeria: How Communities Solve the Crisis

Clean Water Access in NigeriaRural communities in Nigeria face the steepest hurdles to access clean, safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Many households still rely on unprotected wells, streams or vendors, while schools and clinics struggle without reliable WASH services. UNICEF estimates that millions remain without basic drinking water and that open defecation persists on a large scale, with the burden falling hardest on rural families.

Nigeria’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) 2021 assessment shows wide rural and wealth-based gaps in access, underscoring the need to invest where services lag the most.

Health and School Attendance

Unsafe water and poor sanitation drive diarrheal disease, cholera outbreaks and undernutrition, which in turn keep children out of class. Schools without toilets or handwashing stations see higher absenteeism and girls are more likely to miss lessons during menstruation when facilities are inadequate.

UNICEF reporting links improved school WASH to better attendance and fewer disease outbreaks, while global WASH-in-Schools data show that safe water, private toilets and soap at school are tied to learning and dignity, particularly for girls.

WaterAid Nigeria: Community WASH in Action

WaterAid Nigeria partners with state governments and communities to install and maintain water points, expand sanitation and promote everyday hygiene behaviors. Its 2023–2028 country strategy prioritizes systems strengthening so local authorities can finance, operate and sustain services beyond a single project cycle.

WaterAid is also part of technical groups that support behavior change, supply chains and accountability, helping rural districts build reliable access and keep services working.

Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet

The federal government’s Clean Nigeria campaign aims to end open defecation by 2025 and move households toward safely managed sanitation. The campaign mobilizes states, local governments and households through community-led approaches, public awareness and certification of open defecation-free areas.

UNICEF supports the effort with technical assistance and outreach and recent updates highlight the urgency of accelerating progress so that gains are sustained across rural districts.

National Action Plan: A Path to 2030

Nigeria’s National Action Plan for the Revitalization of the WASH Sector sets a three-phase roadmap that includes an 18-month emergency plan, a five-year recovery program and a long-term strategy through 2030.

The plan outlines a renewed federal-state partnership, more precise service targets and stronger financing so rural communities can gain and sustain access. Civil society groups summarize how the plan links with the national sanitation campaign, aligning policy and implementation at the state and local levels.

Building Pathways Out of Poverty

Expanding rural access to clean, safe water and sanitation reduces disease, protects household income and keeps children in school in Nigeria. It also creates jobs in construction, operations and local supply chains. Indeed, the World Bank’s SURWASH program projects service gains in water and sanitation and upgrades in schools and health facilities, complementing Clean Nigeria and NGO partnerships.

Continued investment in these approaches could help Nigeria scale reliable services and unlock health and education gains that drive long-term poverty reduction.

– Joseph Hasty

Joseph is based in Winter Park, FL, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Nigeria’s Promise of Plastic Bottle Bricks

Plastic Bottle BricksNigeria faces a critical housing deficit, estimated at more than 20 million units. As the population exceeds 220 million and continues to grow, the demand for affordable and adequate housing far outpaces supply. This shortage has led to overcrowded urban areas, substandard living conditions and increased socioeconomic stress on low-income households.

A Parallel Plastic Waste Problem

Traditional construction methods, reliant on expensive materials like cement and concrete, remain out of reach for much of the population. At the same time, Nigeria is also battling a major plastic waste crisis. The country is the world’s second-largest plastic polluter and inadequate waste management services mean that plastic often accumulates in public spaces or is burned, creating further environmental hazards.

The Rise of Plastic Bottle Bricks

In response to these pressing challenges, several communities, engineers and social enterprises are exploring an unconventional but promising solution: building homes using plastic bottle bricks. This method involves filling discarded plastic bottles with sand or other materials and using them in construction as a substitute for conventional bricks.

Research and field trials have shown that these bottle bricks are cost-effective, up to 30–50% cheaper than traditional bricks and structurally sound. Compacted sand inside the bottles is nearly 20 times stronger than regular bricks. Additionally, these structures offer thermal insulation, making them well-suited to Nigeria’s hot climate.

One notable example is the work of Yahaya Ahmed from Nigeria’s Development Association for Renewable Energies. According to Ahmed, homes made from bottle bricks cost only a third of traditional concrete structures. These homes also help reduce plastic waste, a significant environmental benefit given Nigeria’s growing consumption of bottled water.

Pilot Projects Showing Promise

Pilot projects across Nigeria, including in Yelwa village and Paipe community, have shown successful implementation of this technology. In Paipe, a prototype home was built at 35% of the cost of a standard house and integrated renewable energy and water systems. These projects address the housing and waste crises and provide employment and technical training for young engineers and local workers.

Social enterprises like Brickify are also contributing to this movement. Founded in 2019, Brickify recycles plastic waste into interlocking “Lego-style” bricks for building low-cost homes, schools and public toilets. The organization has recycled more than 50,000 tons of plastic waste and engages local communities by offering incentives, such as school fees or meals, for collecting plastic waste. Its water, fire and wind-resistant bricks significantly reduce construction time and material costs.

Barriers and the Path Forward

Despite its promise, bottle brick technology faces several challenges, including a lack of skilled labor, insufficient government incentives and limited research funding. For wider adoption, sustained collaboration between government bodies, private investors and environmental organizations will be necessary.

Ultimately, while plastic bottle brick homes are not a complete solution to Nigeria’s housing crisis, they offer a practical and sustainable model that addresses multiple issues at once: housing, waste, unemployment and environmental degradation.

– Sriya Regulapati

Sriya is based in Vancouver, Canada and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solutions to Rapid Urbanization in Wetlands

Rapid Urbanization in WetlandsRapid urbanization in wetlands is an increasing problem for multiple cities throughout sub-Saharan Africa and is often driven by population growth, economic development, infrastructure development and migration. Rapid urbanization in wetlands affects biodiversity loss, flooding and altered hydrology, water quality degradation and loss of livelihood. Some patterns identified with rapid urbanization affecting wetlands are informal settlements, fragmented urbanization and densification.

Lagos, Nigeria and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) experience some of these issues. However, they’ve developed sustainable solutions that help control and maintain livelihoods and infrastructures.

Lagos

Lagos, Nigeria, is a wetland area heavily affected by rapid urbanization. Housing and informal settlements, transportation infrastructures, solid waste management, environmental pollution and unemployment are all problems throughout the city.

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has previously stated that it is committed to constructing more than 10,000 housing units nationwide, including Lagos, with the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Program. This opportunity also created 252,800 jobs for Nigerians, contributing to the country’s economic landscape. The workers also received wages significantly above the national minimum wage.

Waste-to-energy plants offer sustainable solutions to water disposal and energy generation, many of which can be seen in Lagos. Harvest Waste Consortium has formalized a partnership with Lagos to construct a waste-to-energy plant using advanced technology to create clean energy from the state’s solid, commercial and industrial waste. Around 40,000 homes will be taken off the national electricity grid due to clean energy.

Kinshasa

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is another wetland area that is impacted by rapid urbanization. Increased risk of flooding continues throughout the city due to population growth and improper drainage systems. Informal settlements also affect the quality of life in Kinshasa, making strategic urban planning essential to manage the city’s growth and transformation.

A Participatory Slum Upgrading Program works in Kinshasa to improve slum conditions while preventing the possibility of creating new slums. The program aims to ensure access to safe, adequate, affordable housing and basic services to upgrade the slums.

As rapid urbanization in wetlands continues, Kinshasa has developed nature-based solutions. These solutions help to build urban climate resilience, lower carbon emissions and provide socioeconomic benefits. Proper drainage systems that can handle channel runoff from heavy rains were developed and restoring soil fertility, creating jobs and providing food for locals are also possible because of these solutions.

Conclusion

Rapid urbanization in wetlands presents serious challenges for cities like Lagos and Kinshasa. Yet, both cities demonstrate that these impacts can be managed with strategic planning and sustainable solutions, such as housing initiatives, waste-to-energy projects and nature-based approaches.

Addressing rapid wetland urbanization requires long-term investment, innovative policies and community participation to balance urban growth with environmental protection and improved quality of life.

– Eva Wakelin

Eva is based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash