An Investigation into the Impact of Poverty on Students’ Academic Performance

This study examines the impact of poverty on student’s academic performance in Nigeria, focusing on Oyo and Ogun States. Poverty, as a multi-dimensional phenomenon, significantly affects access to basic needs, including education .The study is grounded in the Signaling Theory and the Modern Human Capital , which explain the correlation between education , skills , and wages. Through a quantitative approach, data were collected from undergraduate students across various institutions. The analysis, using Chi-Square statistical tools, reveals that poverty adversely affects educational outcomes, attendance, and academic performance. The study also identifies several contributing factors to poverty and proposes strategies to alleviate its effects on education. These include increased funding for schools, expanding access to quality early childhood education, providing free tutorial services, and implementing mentorship and vocational training programs. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive interventions to improve educational opportunities for impoverished students and promote overall national development.