%0 Journal Article
%T What do we know about pro-poor growth and regional poverty in Nigeria?
%A Hyacinth Eme Ichoku
%A Chukwuma Agu
%A John Ele-Ojo Ataguba
%J International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research
%D 2012
%I Kavala Institute of Technology
%X This study investigates the pro-poorness of income growth in Nigeria. Using nationallyrepresentative data for 1996 and 2004, overall income growth in Nigeria was found not tobe pro-poor. The richer segments of the population appropriate greater share of benefits fromeconomic growth. Household size was a critical determinant of poverty levels. Sector ofemployment also impacts on the probability of a household being poor; with those in agriculturebeing relatively worse off. The need for smaller family size has to be an integral part of policyaimed at poverty reduction in Nigeria. The support of the government in creating value incritical sectors (like agriculture and industry) that employ a large proportion of Nigeriansin order to make growth pro-poor is critical. There is also a need for region-specific policiesaddressing the peculiarities of poverty in the different parts of the country. One size does notfit all. Deliberate effort of the government in redistributing income is also required to ensurepro-poorness of growth in Nigeria.
%K Economic growth
%K pro-poor growth
%K poverty
%K Nigeria
%U http://www.ijesar.org/docs/volume5_issue3/regional_poverty_nigeria.pdf