Oxfam Nigeria and the Malala Fund have called for bold, youth-centred policy reforms to address Nigeria’s deepening inequality. They warned that the current trajectory of exclusion, poor public investment, and weak institutions threatens sustainable development and national cohesion.
Speaking at “The Next 90%: Youth, Policy & A Fairer Nigeria” policy dialogue in Abuja, Oxfam Country Director, John Makina, painted a stark picture of inequality in Nigeria, likening the situation to a party where 10 guests hoard 90% of the food, leaving the remaining 90 to share scraps. He lamented that the richest 10% of Nigerians control 90% of national wealth, while over 83 million citizens survive on less than N3,100 ($2) a day.
“This is not just about income. It’s about access to healthcare, quality education, and dignity. It’s about teenage girls in northern Nigeria who cannot read or write, and women farmers who only control 13% of agricultural land despite doing most of the work,” Makina stated.
Makina decried the absence of youth representation in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, emphasising that the political inclusion of young Nigerians is not merely a matter of fairness but a strategic necessity for the country’s future.
“Young people bring fresh energy, creativity, and innovative ideas. Excluding them from decision-making is a missed opportunity.”
Highlighting data from Oxfam’s latest inequality report, he called for strengthened public services, wealth and excess profit taxation, progressive labour policies, and the dismantling of monopolies to spur job creation and equitable economic growth.
In her keynote address, Nabila Aguele, the chief executive of the Malala Fund in Nigeria, reinforced the urgency of the challenge. She described Nigeria’s inequality as among the most entrenched globally, with 133 million people – 63% of the population – living in multidimensional poverty.
“Youth unemployment stands at over 42%. More than 11 million girls are out of school, 60% of them in northern Nigeria. These are not just statistics—they are ticking time bombs,” Aguele warned.
She emphasised that young people and women must not just be consulted in policy matters but co-create them.
“No nation can prosper while leaving its women and youth behind. We must invest in human capital, particularly education and health, and design policies grounded in local realities and led by community actors.”
Aguele praised the work of local youth-led organisations and civil society groups such as Connected Development (CODE), noting that they are driving change on the ground.
“We must move from tokenistic engagement to genuine collaboration,” she said.
CODE CEO Hamzat Lawal attributed worsening inequality to the government’s failure to match budget commitments with actual releases, particularly in the education sector.
“The problem is not always the budget figure, but the dismal implementation. This fuels poor infrastructure and learning outcomes, especially for girls in hard-to-reach areas.”
Lawal criticised the dominance of strong individuals in a system of weak institutions.
“Terrible policies lead to weak institutions, and ultimately, the burden is borne by the most vulnerable – the citizens.”
Participants at the dialogue urged the federal government to adopt evidence-based policymaking, increase social spending on education and healthcare, and ensure youth and women are part of national planning processes.
The forum concluded with a strong message to Nigerian policymakers: the time for rhetoric has passed. Nigeria needs urgent, bold, and inclusive action to reverse decades of systemic inequality and build a fairer, more just nation for all.
