This research project was initiated and carried out by the Institute with the help of a grant from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. The aim of the research was to look at poverty in Nigeria through the eyes of those experiencing it. Over 90 million people in Nigeria are living below the poverty line. Statistics abound in reports from the Federal Office of Statistics in Nigeria, to the World Bank and other international institutions, but we wanted to look at poverty from the ground up, to understand how individuals living in this condition manage to survive (or not). In addition, we wanted to understand how the neo-liberal economic policies put in place in the country since the 1980s through the Structural Adjustment Programme have impacted peoples’ lives. To achieve this, we conducted intensive interviews with 55 individuals on their life histories in an effort to discern their life trajectories These involved women and men, in urban and rural areas, and from all parts of Nigeria. In addition, the interviewers were asked to spend a day with the individuals to observe and how they spent their time from morning to night. The interviews were recorded, translated (when not conducted in English) and transcribed, and were analysed with very interesting results. In addition to the interviews, our economic team analysed primary data on the neoliberal economic policies and the way they were implemented in Nigeria. The two facets of the research were melded together to give us a comprehensive picture, from the policy aspect and from those at the receiving end of those policies. We also suggested areas for advocacy and action to recommend ways of alleviating the ravages of poverty in the particular conditions of Nigeria and ultimately eliminating it. The report was published as a book which has gotten wide distribution and has been cited in numerous publications and has also been used as a teaching aid in universities.