Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Poverty has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with social mobility. This growing interest reflects the recognition that poverty does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Within the context of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of poverty on social mobility, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on poverty, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with social mobility, particularly within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Many organizations continue to make decisions about poverty without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect social mobility. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Poverty on social mobility in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
2. To assess the extent to which poverty influences social mobility within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with poverty in relation to social mobility.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing poverty in order to improve social mobility.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of poverty on social mobility in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja?
2. To what extent does poverty influence social mobility within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with poverty in relation to social mobility?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize poverty in order to improve social mobility?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around social mobility. For managers and practitioners within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the study provides practical insight into how poverty can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on sociology by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, focusing specifically on how poverty relates to social mobility within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.