A recent report on living standard in Nigeria shows that 40 percent of the total population live below the poverty line of 137,430 naira ($381.75) per year. Also 27.1 percent are unemployed with the worst hit being the youth among whom over 13.9 million are either unemployed or underemployed. The number of people living below the poverty line rises on daily basis among this group.

Poverty has with it many negative implications ranging from lack of income and malnutrition to limited access to education and other basic services. It leads to discrimination, exclusion and lack of say in the decisions that impact our lives. For a female youth in Nigeria it comes with even greater risk and challenges.

Poverty has become a big threat to female youth development. It has led to social menace such as insecurity, crime, social deviances, addiction and other forms of vices across the country.

A UNICEF report on Girl Child Education in Nigeria 2020 has shown that from tender age, females start suffering greater economic lack than boys leading to their missing out on education and other developmental opportunities. Example, in the North-East part of Nigeria, only 41 percent of eligible girls receive primary education, while 47 percent do so in the North-West. Similarly, the health of a female youth is compromised by poverty. Studies have revealed that girls living in poor households are more likely to be exposed to sëxual coercion and to engage in high risk behaviours such as transactional sëx, non-consensual sëx, and sëx with multiple partners than girls who are financially better off. In the same vein, studies on female sëx workers show that a large majority of them are under the age of 25. Poor household conditions often force young women to engage in sëx work, which increases their risk of HIV infection.

Youth Advocates for Leadership and Development in Nigeria cites a growing body of evidence that reveals that economic disparities fuel the HIV pandemic and contribute to other negative health outcomes among female youths today. Peter Piot, former Executive Director of UNAIDS, affirms this when he stated that African countries’ HIV infection rates correlate with income. inequality. This negative impact of poverty on female youths is heavily felt in the tertiary education sector. Research findings show that approximately only one four students applying for university admission will get a spot. The majority who fail to go to university suffer this fate not necessarily because they didn’t meet the criteria for admission but because they lack the financial strength that will see them through school.
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Source: https://www.cosmoworld.com.ng/effects-of-poverty-on-female-youths/