NJIKO: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Humanities, Law, Education and Social Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in the global economic system, disproportionately affecting developing nations. This paper, using secondary sources such as journal articles, textbooks, newspapers, and media reports, applies dependency theory to examine how the pandemic deepened economic challenges in these countries. Findings show that heavily reliant on exports, foreign investment, and global supply chains, many developing economies suffered severe downturns due to global disruptions. It further reveals that for Nigeria, her structural dependence on external markets and foreign capital left them unprepared for the crisis. The pandemic also intensified economic inequality, brain drain, vaccine dependency, and poverty. This study underscores the urgent need for rethinking globalization to foster more resilient and equitable global economies. Recommendations include developing robust domestic policies to enhance global competitiveness and strengthen both human and capital resources in these nations

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