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Financial situation in Nigeria

According to data from the World Poverty Clock, in 2018 Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world, meaning that more people live in extreme poverty in Nigeria than in any other country of the world. “Extreme poverty” is defined by the World Poverty Clock as living on less than $1.90 per day. In Nigeria, approximately 90 million people live on less than $1.90 a day, which is more than half of Nigeria’s population. Additionally, in Nigeria the number of people living in extreme poverty is on the rise, whereas in other countries it is on the decline. The World Poverty Clock estimates that by the year 2028, Nigeria will have over 113 million people living in extreme poverty. Though these statistics provide a gloomy outlook for this African nation, the people are very resilient, hard working and joyful.

To give an idea of the economic situation in Nigeria, here is some general data:

Teachers generally make about $70 USD per month in Catholic school and $110 USD per month in government school.
A laborer (such as a construction worker) also makes about $70 USD a month.
A parish priest makes about $28 USD per month. Additionally, the parish provides a rectory and also has a food collection the first Sunday of the month for the priest.
Tuition for a parish school is typically less than $50 USD per year. This tuition covers all teaching materials, teacher and staff salaries and upkeep of facilities. The annual budget for a typical 300-student day school is approximately $12,500 USD a year. This covers the salary of all teachers and staff, books and teaching supplies and general upkeep of the facilities.
A hospital visit with medication costs approximately $27 USD per doctor visit.
The Budget for spiritual year seminary is $17,000 USD a year.
Construction costs in Nigeria are generally over 90% less expensive than in the U.S. For example, the Diocesan Retreat Center that is under construction will end up costing approximately $1.2 million USD. In the U.S., a similar facility would easily cost over $25 million USD.

As a result of the above averages, donations from the United States provide tenfold blessings upon the Church and people in Nigeria. Below are some specific ways you can help.

General Donations

We are grateful for any financial assistance you can offer. When general donations are made, either through the various parish-based mission appeals each year, or through direct contributions to this office, the money is used to provide the many needs identified on this website. If you could make a monthly donation, or even an annual one, we would not only be very grateful, but you can be assured that your donation will greatly assist us in our service of Christ and His people. Thank you for your generosity.

Specific Donations

If you would like to donate toward a specific project or need, we would love to hear from you so as to assist you with that goal. As you browse the various needs and ministries highlighted on this website, feel free to contact Fr. Gerald Akata, Director of Finances for the Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, to inquire about ways that you can donate toward something you feel most passionate about. He will be most happy to hear from you and will personally assist you with your choice of support. Fr. Gerald can offer more detailed information and will also provide you with pictures upon the completion of any specific project toward which you would like to donate.

Below are some ideas for specific donations:

Education: Overview

Water well at a parish school—The schools within the Diocese of Ikot Ekpene are all without any running water. In fact, very few of them even have their own water well (called a “borehole”). The digging of a borehole on school grounds costs about $5,000 USD. Once a borehole is dug, a small water tower is erected so that there can be a continual source of water available to the school staff and children. When a school does not have its own borehole, school staff must daily walk to nearby boreholes and carry the water back to the school in buckets.
Books and other educational materials
Computers for schools
Subsidization of a school teacher salary for a year
See also Primary Schools and Secondary Schools

Healthcare: Overview

Used medical equipment—If you or someone you know works at a hospital in the U.S., and if you are planning on updating any of your medical equipment, we would love to receive the donation of your used and working equipment. The four mission hospitals in the Diocese of Ikot Ekpene would benefit from almost any kind of usable equipment. Donated equipment will be shipped to Nigeria through the U.S. Missions Office. Medical equipment most in need includes: Scanning machine, x-ray machine, electrolytes analyzer, electrophoretic machine, chemistry analyzer, incubator, operating table, operating lights, sanitizing machine, other general medical utensils for surgery and medical supplies. This list is not exhaustive. Please contact the Missions Office for more details or with any questions.
Subsidize a monthly medical outreach and medication to the impoverished villages —Many people living in rural villages do not travel to the mission hospitals when they or their children are ill, because they do not have money for medication and services. As a result, many people remain untreated and death is not uncommon from illnesses that could otherwise be treated. To assist the poor in the villages, the Catholic hospitals of the Diocese each regularly send a medical team made up of 1-2 doctor(s), 3-4 nurses, a pharmacist and a lab technician to offer free healthcare and medication. If you would like to sponsor one day of outreach by a medical team as well as the medication distributed for free, the estimated average daily cost is about $1,000. Sponsoring all or part of a day of rural outreach will provide essential medical attention and medication to as many as 50 villagers per day. Many of these villagers are children and elderly.
Learn more about two of our hospitals: St. Mary Hospital and Mercy Hospital

Diocesan Projects:

Seminary Education: