Understanding the Dynamics of Poverty in Nigeria: What Role Has Human Capital Development Played?

Lydia Adeoye, Obafemi Awolowo University
Abiodun Adegboye, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

Poverty remains eminently high in Nigeria, despite the various measures that have been implemented. Reproductive health, particularly adolescent childbearing, has been recognized as a contributory factor to high levels of poverty in many developing countries including Nigeria. However, the current study examines the transmission channels linking adolescent childbearing to poverty, an area which is scarcely investigated in the literature. Data was sourced from the NDHS 2018. The study employed Probit and Ordered Probit estimation methods and showed that adolescent childbirth increases the chances of being poor. Moreover, a reduction in the probability of higher education attainment, which also reduces the chances of labour market participation emerged as a channel of poverty propagation in Nigeria. Results show that the effect of adolescent childbearing on poverty could be mitigated via the accumulation of schooling. Hence, more schools and higher labour force participation may reduce poverty incidence, and the effect of adolescent childbearing on poverty could be mitigated via schooling.