Quality of life = wide range of human needs that should be met alongside economic growth
○ Is measured using the Human Development Index (HDI) → measures 3 important aspects of
people’s lives:
■ Life expectancy (health)
■ Years of schooling (access to education)
■ Gross national income (wealth)
● Nigeria is ranked 152 out of 187 countries by HDI
○ Puts it in the low category for human development
● But, over a longer period , since 1980 → has been significant improvements in human development
○ Is connected with country’s economic development
■ New jobs that came with development allowed people to make higher incomes and pay for
their basic needs
■ Government earned more money through taxes → allowed for development
● ie/ multiplier effect
● Benefits of economic growth are not equally shared
○ There are large differences between:
■ North and south of the country
■ Urban and rural areas
■ Educated and uneducated people
Economic migrants in Nigeria:
● Economic migrants risk their lives to leave Nigeria
● 2014 → 100, 000 migrants from Africa/Middle East crossed the Mediterranean Sea in makeshift boats to
reach Europe
○ Most migrants came from countries which were at war
○ Nigeria was not at war → 9% of Nigerian migrants moved to Europe to have a better QOL
■ Economic migrants = migrants with the main purpose of finding work or escaping poverty
● Journey from Nigeria to Europe is long/dangerous → involves journey across Sahara Desert to Libya
○ Libya was involved in a civil war
○ Migrants in Libya paid 100s of pounds to sail across the Mediterranean
■ Boats were often unfit for voyage → led to 3, 000 deaths (2014)
● Migrants aim to earn enough money in Europe and send it back to Nigeria to support their family
