A former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Lai Olurode, has attributed the prevalence of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria to low budgetary spending on health and education. He lamented that Nigeria spent the least on education and heath when compared to Ghana and South Africa.

The sociology professor stated this while presenting a paper at a two-day yearly staff improvement workshop for The Wings Schools, Iwo, Osun State, with the theme: “Reluctant Souls, Lamenting Teachers; the State and Knowledge Centres.”

The programme was preparatory to the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic session at the schools. The professor said: “Multidimensional poverty is high in Nigeria because we spend the least on education and health sectors when compared to Ghana and South Africa, even though these countries are not as well endowed as Nigeria.”

“The data shown is an expression of Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political elite indifference to budgetary allocations to the sectors that ought to matter Nigeria’s rich resources are being harvested and plundered by some politicians of different shades.

“Ordinary Nigerians have been turned into scavengers which are a paradox in the context of Nigeria’s huge human and resource endowments.

“Without attention being paid to education, Nigeria’s poverty profile will remain daunting. Major players in the education sector aren’t just bothered as their children are not participants in the sector.”