AN ASSESSEMENT OF THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN NIGERIA
Abstract
Poverty has been identified as a worldwide problem to humanity. It is a phenomenon that has caused several afflictions and untold sufferings of varying degrees not only to Nigerian citizenry but the world at large. Poverty has many dimensions, but its causes include unemployment, social exclusion and a host of others. Several categories of people in schools at all levels cannot afford the school fee. Majority of the Nigerian workers can hardly feed well. Crime is on the increase today because people are compelled to do anything either good or evil so as to obtain the necessities of life. A lot of people in Nigeria are living on less than $1.90 per day. The lackadaisical attitude of the government to alleviate or completely eradicate poverty has mandated other social factors to be involved in handling the issue. Therefore, the role of the church in the fight against poverty becomes relevant. The method adopted for this work was historical research method. This became imperative in order to trace the history and current trend of poverty in Nigeria and efforts made and still being made to at least alleviate it. The study concluded that poverty must not be understood as God’s will for one’s life. As such, it must be treated as a war which must be fought and won by all means. The work recommended that that the number of poor people should be identified and loans should be given to them without interest. Also, Church and organizations can commence training on financial and economic matters that will lead to self-reliance of the needy ones in the society.
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