Africa faces persistent poverty challenges, with sub-Saharan Africa seeing a slower decline in poverty rates compared to global trends. While global poverty dropped from 38 percent in 1990 to 9 percent in 2019, sub-Saharan Africaʼs rate fell from 55 percent to 37 percent. "The 2025 Nextier Development Festival: Co-creating for Nigeriaʼs Development" will explore practical ideas to reverse this trend, focusing on Nigeria's unique context. The event will convene leading scholars, academics, government officials, policymakers, development consultants, civil society leaders, entrepreneurs, and youth to share, discuss, and explore solutions to Africa’s most complex development challenges.

IPA is serving as a knowledge partner for this event, contributing to the event’s design and content and supporting with our resources and expertise on rigorous research. IPA staff will present at the event, including:

• Funmilayo Ayeni (Country Director, IPA Nigeria) will present on “Housing, Water, Sanitation, and Energy Access as Poverty Drivers in Nigeria.” This presentation will analyze living standards indicators contributing to the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) in Nigeria and share examples of successful interventions to discuss the nature of the challenges, potential solutions, and pragmatic design elements.
• Brian Mwesigwa (Senior Research Manager, IPA Nigeria) will present on “Job Creation and Economic Participation,” analyzing job creation or work-related indicators in Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty framework and examining rural, urban, and sector-specific economic opportunities that could create jobs.

To learn more about this event, view the event website and register here to receive more information.