Examining the Research Gap in Life Course Analysis of Poverty in Nigeria

Life course approaches to poverty recognise that vulnerability varies by age, gender, and life stage, yet longitudinal life course analysis of poverty dynamics in Nigeria has been severely limited by panel data scarcity. This study examined this research gap through systematic literature review and original analysis using available longitudinal data. A systematic scoping review of 11 databases identified 48 publications from 2018 to 2024 on poverty dynamics in Nigeria, of which only 11 used panel or longitudinal data and only 3 specifically applied a life course analytical framework. Original analysis used two waves of the Nigeria General Household Survey Panel (2018-19 and 2022-23) to examine poverty transitions and life stage vulnerability among 4,200 tracked households. Poverty persistence analysis showed that 47.3 percent of poor households in 2018-19 remained poor in 2022-23. Households entering poverty were disproportionately those experiencing female widowhood, youth household headship after parental death, and retirement of the primary earner without pension. Children under 10 and adults over 65 showed the highest multidimensional poverty rates across both waves. The study identifies three critical research gaps: the absence of a dedicated Nigerian poverty panel, limited integration of demographic events into poverty transition analysis, and inadequate coverage of northern states in existing panels. An original Poverty-Life Course Integration Framework is proposed, and TETFUND investment in a dedicated Nigerian poverty panel is recommended.

Keywords: life course analysis, poverty dynamics, panel data, Nigeria, poverty transition