UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AND POVERTY DYNAMICSLINKAGESIN NIGERIA: A STATE LEVEL ANALYSIS USING LOGIT AND PROBIT MODELS

Abstract

Poverty is said to exist when people lack the means to satisfy their basic
needs. Thus, improving the educational attainment of the population is
an important requirement to reduce poverty amid the populace and
foster development. However, Nigeria with her wealth, still facing
enormous challenge in effort made at national level to reduce poverty.
The aim and objective of this study is to give insight into the factors that
affect or influence poverty in spite of attainment of university education
in Nigeria. Percentage data from thirty-six States of the country
including the Federal Capital territory Abuja were collated and analyzed
through a qualitative response model design. Results from the Probit and
Logit models used for analysis reveal that of all variables analyzed, only
percentage of household heads with poor educational background was
significant at 5% level for all variables analyzed. This indicates a
situation that a state with degree educational level of household heads as
0.2 percent, is more likely to be poor when compared to non-poor
degree educational level of household head. However, in other way to
reduce effect of poverty on educated households, it is recommended that
various states’ government should provide graduates with the training
and support necessary to help them establish a career in small and
medium sized business.