The Effect of Poverty, Income and Gender Inequality on Economic Growth in Nigeria

This study examined the effect of poverty, income and gender inequality on economic growth in Nigeria within the period 1990-2022. The study employed time series data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin and World Bank Development Indicator for Nigeria. Adopting the OLS, unit root, Engel and granger co-integration, ECM and residual diagnostic test to analyze the data from the NBS, CBN Statistical bulletin and World Bank Development Indicator for Nigeria, the study specifically determined how poverty, income and gender inequality affects Nigeria’s economic growth. The OLS result shows that 86% of the changes in the dependent variable (economic growth) are explained by the independent variables (national poverty rate, income and gender inequality). The study findings shows that as poverty, income and gender inequality decreased, economic growth will increase confirming to the apriori expectations, inferring close links among the independent variables. Based on the findings, it was recommended that deliberate effort should be made by government to creating employment opportunities, fair accessibility to opportunities for both genders and full government intervention as a major tool in order to combat poverty and inequality in Nigeria. The study encourages the adoption of SDGs by the government as a guide during policy formulation and implementation.