Wealth Disparity: Poorest Children 11 Times Likelier to Die Than Kids of Wealthiest, Says PIC

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) said children from the poorest families are nearly 11 times more likely to die than those from the wealthiest families.

The Policy Innovation Centre is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, a leading think tank in Africa.

The Executive Director of PIC, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, stated this at the ongoing Gender and Inclusion Summit 2024, themed “Reimagining Gender-inclusive Pathways and Partnerships for poverty reduction,” held in Abuja yesterday.

The director said: “In Nigeria, for instance, the link between poverty and child mortality is particularly stark. Children from the poorest families are nearly 11 times more likely to die than those from the wealthiest families.

“The global multidimensional poverty index offers a comprehensive understanding of poverty, going beyond monetary measures to capture its multidimensional aspects, providing a clearer picture of who is poor and why.

“It is against this backdrop that the Policy Innovation Centre has dedicated this Gender and Inclusion Summit 2024 to discussing policy imperatives and actions necessary to realize a more inclusive Nigeria for all.

“Hence, the PIC community commits to translating every idea and recommendation from this summit into a clear roadmap for actions towards improving Nigeria’s performance in gender index rankings.

In his opening remark, the chairman of NESG, Mr. Niyi Yussuf, stated that since 2022, the summit has been institutionalized as an annual gathering for multi-stakeholders to discuss and co-create contextually relevant solutions for gender and inclusion in Nigeria.

According to Niyi, the theme of the 2024 gender summit is highly relevant “as we urgently need to tackle poverty in the country, which disproportionately affects women. The scourge of multidimensional poverty persists, entangling millions and hindering the full realization of our potential.”

He said: “Hence, every aspect of our assistance must influence the fabric of our society and shape our collective future. Today, we gather with a sense of urgency and purpose, dedicated to combining our wisdom and insights to confront this pressing challenge head-on.

“Our aim is to create solutions that directly lead to the reduction of inequality and deprivations that have stifled progress for far too long. Together, I believe we aspire to forge a path towards a more just, equitable, and prosperous society where every individual can thrive and contribute to our shared prosperity.

“Hence, we need to design and implement solutions that will allow our women and every citizen to take their rightful place in our society, so that our dear nation can finally realize its potential.”