An inquiry whether the recorded increase in economic growth between 2010 and 2014 has reduced poverty in the educational dimension across households in Abuja, Nigeria: with focus on Bwari, Gw

The World Bank’s 2014 Nigeria Economic Report (NER) has it that the Nigerian economy recorded sustained growth between 2010 and 2014, with an annual growth rate of 8% and an increased gross national product (GNP) of US$ 509 billion recorded in 2013, the report has it that the Nigerian economy is the largest economy in Africa and 26th in the world. In Development Studies, scholars have debated that economic growth reduces poverty. In the face of this recorded economic growth by the World Bank, this dissertation sets to inquire whether poverty in the educational dimension has been reduced across households in Abuja, Nigeria, with focus on Abaji, Gwagwalada and Kuje Area Councils. The dissertation relied on two research vehicles to facilitate this study: firstly, literatures review relevant to the study (secondary sources of data), carried out by evaluating what is economic growth; discussing the concept of poverty as it relates to the educational dimension; analysing the theoretical debate in economic growth and poverty reduction as a concept, and by examining the trend of the Nigerian economy between 2010 and 2014. The second vehicle used is the survey, carried out through questionnaires and interviews administered to households and individuals working in government agencies and schools in the selected Area Councils of Abuja, Nigeria. The research found that: Nigeria recorded increase in economic growth between 2010 and 2014;  educational deprivation is a dimension of poverty; it also found that economic growth could lead to reduction of poverty in educational dimension when the country investments in education; an interesting finding in the dissertation is that although, the government of Nigeria has carried out policies aimed at reducing the educational dimension of poverty, which increased school attendance for the household members, this however is not enough, as teachers are not regularly trained, classrooms are overcrowded, there exist basic school leavers without basic reading skill, some household members may not be able to complete five years of schooling without interruption, and the female household member does not have the same educational opportunity as her male counterpart. The main conclusion drawn from this research is that despite the recorded increase in economic growth in Nigeria between 2010 and 2014, the effort of the government at reducing poverty is not enough as indicated in years of completion of school, acquisition of basic reading skills, irregular teachers’ training, overcrowded classrooms, and educational discrimination between the male and female child. This research argued that the government needs to invest more on education in the face of the recorded economic growth in order to reduce the educational dimension of poverty across households in Abuja, Nigeria.Table of ContentsAbstract..................................................................................................................................ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... iii Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ vi Tables .................................................................................................................................. vii Figure ................................................................................................................................. viii Chapter 1  Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1:1. Background to the study ............................................................................................. 1 1:2. Research focus ........................................................................................................... 2 1:3. Research aim and objectives ...................................................................................... 3 1:4. Significance of the study ............................................................................................. 4 1:5. Research hypotheses ................................................................................................. 4 1:5:1. Hypothesis one .................................................................................................... 4 1:5:2. Hypothesis two ..................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2  Literature Review ............................................................................................. 6 2:1. Economic growth defined ........................................................................................... 6 2:2. Poverty defined ........................................................................................................... 2:3. Economic growth and poverty reduction: a review .................................................... 12 2:4. Performance of the Nigerian economy 2010 to 2014 ................................................ 17 Chapter 3  Research Methodology .................................................................................. 21 3:1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 21 3:2. Research strategy .................................................................................................... 22 3:3. Data collection .......................................................................................................... 26 3.4. Data collection techniques ........................................................................................ 29 3:5. Framework for data analysis ..................................................................................... 30 3:6. Research limitations ................................................................................................. 31 3:7. Ethical Considerations .............................................................................................. 32 Chapter 4  Survey Findings ............................................................................................. 34 4:1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 34 4:2. Tabular description of results obtained from the households in Bwari, Gwagwaladaa and Kuje Area Councils in Abuja, Nigeria ........................................................................ 34 4:2.1. Section A: Descriptor of respondents ................................................................. 34 4:4. Findings from the responses to semi-structured interview administered to three teachers in Abuja, Nigeria................................................................................................ 40 4:4.1. Findings from the responses to semi-structured interview administered to household heads .......................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 5  Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 42 5:1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 42 5:2. Analyses of subject descriptor data from household members ................................. 42 5:3. Analyses of the government’s effort at reducing the educational dimension of poverty ........................................................................................................................................ 43 5:3. Analyses of the indicators of the educational dimension of poverty in the household results.............................................................................................................................. 44 5:3.1. Analysis of school attendance by household members ...................................... 44 5:3.2. Completion of 5 years of schooling..................................................................... 45 5:3.3. Acquisition of basic reading skills ....................................................................... 45 5:3.4. Gender and reduction of poverty in the educational dimension .......................... 46 Chapter 6  Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 48 6:1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 48 6:2. Summary of research objectives ............................................................................... 48 6:2.1. On evaluation of what is economic growth ......................................................... 48 6:2.2. On the concept of poverty as it relates to educational dimension ....................... 49 6:2.3. Review whether economic growth can reduce poverty ....................................... 49 6:3. Summary of methodology adopted ........................................................................ 50 6:4. Summary of research findings and conclusion .......................................................... 51 6:5. Recommendations for future research ...................................................................... 52 6:6. Self-reflection ........................................................................................................... 53 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 54 Appendix A ......................................................................................................................... 59 Apendix B ........................................................................................................................... 63 Apendix C ........................................................................................................................... 66 Apendix D ........................................................................................................................... 67 Appendix E ......................................................................................................................... 68 Appendix F .......................................................................................................................... 69 Appendix G ......................................................................................................................... 70