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The Global Education Drive (GED), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has urged the Federal and State Government to declare emergency on poverty to ensure the survival of the future generation.
It would be recalled that according to UN Human Development Index of 2018, Nigeria became the country with the highest poverty rate in the world; which stand to about 80 million Nigerians living below poverty line.
The Chief Executive Officer of GED, Dr Amaka Chike, made the call while speaking with NAN in Enugu on Thursday.
Chike said that the government needed to focus on up-lifting about 48 per cent of Nigerians living under poverty, which is measured by earning below two dollars (about N600) per day.
She said that high poverty rate in the country was now affecting the rest of black nations in the world, “since Nigeria is the most populous of them all’’.
“The alarming rate of having 48 per cent, which is about 80 million of Nigerians, living below poverty line should be tackled with all the dispatch and seriousness it deserves.
“India, once the country with highest poverty rate, got a master-plan in the past 20 years and her people in their millions had been up-lifted out of poverty line.
“Nigeria’s narrative of poverty affects every other black nation on the face of the earth.
“So, the government must take the lead by providing practical programmes and policies to tackle poverty, which would be keyed in by all Nigerians for it to work,’’ he said.
The GED boss noted that the future of the country depends on how we plan to ensure end to future poverty of our next generation.
“Our next generation is on the brink of extinction, if we do not tackle poverty head-long now through concerted and collective effort of all,’’ she said.
Chike warned that pulling millions of Nigerians out of poverty must be done by looking inwards, adding that the era of globalization and collective global funding to tackle issues was gradually fading away, since countries now pursue protectionism policies.
“This must be tackled by practical and result-oriented education especially making sure gifted students from indigent families are support to go to higher institution.
“Two, we must take our skill acquisition process to the next level by learning more and getting our artisans trade certification both locally and internationally,’’ she said.
