Asian Journal of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities Vol. 6, No. 1, 2018 ISSN 2311-3782 Multidisciplinary Journals www.multidisciplinaryjournals.com 27 TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA: COMPARATIVE BENEFITS AND THE NECESSITY OF EDUCATION OPTION Victor E. Ita Lawrence I. Edet James E. Effiong Department of Political Science Department of Political Science Department of Psychology Akwa Ibom State University and Public Administration University of Uyo, Uyo – Nigeria Obio Akpa Campus University of Uyo, Uyo – Nigeria Oruk Anam – Nigeria lawrence4justice@yahoo.com itaette70@gmail.com ABSTRACT One of the most disturbing issues of third world countries in general and Nigeria in particular is the challenge of poverty eradication. The poverty situation in Nigeria has steadily grown in magnitude in recent times despite various programmes proffered towards alleviating poverty in the country. But unfortunately, in formulating and implementing these programmes, not much attention has been accorded education as an effective tool for poverty reduction. This paper, therefore, examined poverty situation and the possibility of achieving sustainable poverty reduction in Nigeria through quality education. Through a descriptive and historical analysis of documentary data, the paper argued that the various poverty alleviation programmes and strategies adopted in Nigeria are mere remedial measures to cushion the effects of poverty and therefore cannot actually eradicate poverty in the country. Conclusively, the paper emphasized the adoption of a new approach to poverty alleviation through massive and quality education for all. This the government can do by making education affordable and accessible to the poor and their children. Keywords: Poverty, education, deprivation, degradation, unemployment. INTRODUCTION Eradication or at least reduction of poverty has been an important goal of development strategies in most modern societies. This is also on the agenda of several international development organizations, including UNDP, World Bank and UNICEF (World Bank, 1990, 2000; UNDP, 2000). Several approaches have been in practice towards reduction of poverty, including direct measures like provision of food, employment, and even income to the poor, and indirect measures like provision of education, health, etc., enabling people to earn or increase their earnings, so as to get out of the poverty trap. According to Sachs (2009), more than eight million people around the world die each year because they are too poor to stay alive. In the year 2010, the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) estimated that about 1.4 billion people were living in extreme poverty. Of these, about 93% live in the regions of East Asia, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (UNDP, 2010). In Nigeria, despite the government’s poverty eradication campaigns, national development plans and strategy papers, poverty is still a major challenge. It is also recognised by all and sundry as a major threat to the very existence of Nigeria as a country. Cursory observations show that many Nigerians are living below the poverty level of one US dollar per day. The base line is that, many Nigerians live in poverty in its extreme nature manifesting itself in terms of lack of basic standard of health, nutrition, shelter, water and sanitations, and other minimum need for survival, well-being and participation in the society. For a large