Two Women

Image by Shades of Us

By Yecenu Sasetu

Poverty became a harsh reality for me about ten years ago when I met a pregnant woman who had never attended antenatal care because she couldn’t afford the N100 registration fee. She was eight months pregnant but had never been examined by a doctor or nurse, simply because she couldn’t pay to register at the Primary Health Center.

One hundred naira—even ten years ago—was not a large sum; it might buy a cup of garri and a bit of sugar, enough for a small meal for one or two people. Yet, it was heartbreaking that this small amount stood between her and essential healthcare. We were all shocked that something so basic was out of her reach.

I still see her clearly—dressed in atampa, as we say in Hausa, with a veil covering her head and shoulders, the traditional dress of married women in the North. She was thin and frail, with a bulging stomach that seemed too large for her malnourished frame.

N100.

It might seem trivial to some, but for this woman, about to bring a new life into the world, it was a barrier that meant she and her unborn child faced poverty from the very start.

A few years later, I met another child, a three-year-old still carried by her mother because her legs had not properly developed due to malnutrition. This little girl was covered in sores, couldn’t speak, and looked no older than six months. Diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition, she was severely delayed in every way. Her young mother was left to raise her alone after the man who fathered the child and her family abandoned her. Poverty had consumed her life—she could barely feed herself, let alone her child.

Poverty.

It is a word many fear and reject, a word often denounced in prayers. But poverty is more than just a word; it is a condition. Some are born into it; others fall into it through circumstance. The Oxford Dictionary defines poverty as the state of being very poor. For me, when someone cannot afford N100 to register for antenatal care, that is being very poor.

SDG 1 – No Poverty

The first Sustainable Development Goal is to eradicate poverty. “Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030 is a pivotal goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Extreme poverty—defined as living on less than $2.15 per person per day at 2017 purchasing power parity—has seen remarkable declines over recent decades,” according to the United Nations.

Yet, a World Bank assessment paints a difficult picture for Nigeria: “Despite having the largest economy and population in Africa, Nigeria offers limited opportunities to most of its citizens. Nigerians born in 2020 are expected to be only 36% as productive as they could be if given full access to education and health, the 7th lowest human capital index worldwide. Weak job creation and limited entrepreneurial prospects prevent the absorption of 3.5 million new workers entering the labor force every year. Many Nigerians emigrate in search of better opportunities. The poverty rate is estimated to have reached 38.9% in 2023, with roughly 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line—the world’s second-largest population of poor people after India.”

The average Nigerian has felt the harsh effects of recent economic policies. Businesses have shuttered, and many families have had to cut back drastically to survive. Poverty can stem from health crises, unemployment, and corruption.

Corruption Drives Poverty

Corruption goes beyond stealing money; it steals people’s access to healthcare, education, jobs, and basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. When corruption rules, it strips people of their ability to afford even small amounts, like N100 for antenatal registration at a local clinic. It denies parents the means to feed their children properly, fueling malnutrition and suffering.

How Do We Address Poverty?

The United Nations aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. For Nigeria to meet Goal 1, it must promote job creation and foster an environment where businesses can thrive. The country must confront corruption head-on and ensure transparent governance. Education must be prioritized, with a holistic approach that prepares the next generation to innovate and drive growth.

I hope for a future where no woman is denied antenatal care simply because she cannot afford a small registration fee.

***

Ending poverty is central to the mission of Shades of Us because poverty deeply affects the lives and potential of countless Nigerians, especially women and children, the very communities we seek to empower and uplift. The stories of women unable to access basic healthcare due to a mere N100 fee, or children suffering from malnutrition and developmental delays, illustrate the harsh realities that poverty imposes daily. These barriers not only rob individuals of their dignity but also limit opportunities for education, health, and economic participation.

At Shades of Us, we recognize that poverty is a systemic condition that perpetuates inequality, limits access to essential services, and erodes the fabric of families and communities. Without addressing poverty, efforts to improve health, education, and gender equality are undermined. That is why supporting the Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating poverty aligns directly with our commitment to nurturing holistic growth, creating pathways for economic empowerment, and breaking cycles of hardship.