REDUCING POVERTY IN NIGERIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEUTERONOMY 15:7-18

ABSTRACT

One of the problems confronting the Nigerian society is its high level of poverty which is evident in both rural and urban areas. Among other things, this study makes bare the causes and effects of poverty among Nigerians. However, the aim of the work is to examine how poverty could be reduced among Nigerians as this problem alarms various governmental and non-governmental organizations such that various poverty alleviation programs have been introduced both in the time past and at present. In this work, the reflections for the reduction of poverty in Nigeria would be done in the light of Deuteronomy 15: 7-18 which among other things highlights the right attitude which should be maintained towards the poor. Understandably, this study employs the rhetoric analysis methodology which is mainly used to study biblical passages that correspond with the form of sayings or statements. Therefore, this methodology is considered most appropriate for this work because the pericope under study contains numerous sayings. Findings from this work indicate that poverty can be reduced among Nigerians if the principles implied by the statements in Deuteronomy 15: 7-18 were followed by Nigerians.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page       –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           -i

Requirement Page    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           ii

Approval Page          –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           iii

Certification –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           iv

Dedication     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           v

Acknowledgement   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           vi

Abstract         –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           vii

Table of Contents     –          –           –           –           –           –           –           viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study                  –           –           –           –           1         

1.2 Statement of the Problem           –           –           –           –           2         

1.3 Aim of the Study            –           –           –           –           –           –           –           3

1.3 Scope of the Study        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           4

1.5 Significance of the Study           –           –           –           –           –           4         

1.6 Research Methodology –              –           –           –           –           4         

1.7 Definition of Terms       –           –           –           –           –           –           –           5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1Examination of the Concept “Poverty”         –           –           –           –           9

2.2 Assessment of Poverty in Nigeria                   –           –           –           –           16

2.3 Causes of Poverty in Nigeria   –           –           –           –           –           –           23

2.4 Effects of Poverty in Nigeria   –           –           –           –           –           –           33

2.5 Evaluation of Poverty Alleviation Programs in Nigeria        –           38

CHAPTER THREE: EXEGETICAL STUDY OF DEUTERONOMY 15: 7-18

3.1 Translation of Deuteronomy 15: 7-18                  –           –           –           43       

3.2 Delimitation of Deuteronomy 15: 7-18                 –           –           45       

3.3 Context of Deuteronomy 15: 7-18      –           –              –           –           49       

3.4 Literary Form of Deuteronomy 15: 7-18       –           –           –           –           50

3.5 Literary Techniques in Deuteronomy 15: 7-18        –           –           –           51

3.6 Structure of Deuteronomy 15: 7-18   –         –           –           –           56       

3.7 Close Reading of Deuteronomy 15: 7-18          –           –           –           57       

CHAPTER FOUR: DEUTERONOMY 15: 7-18 AND THE NIGERIAN                                       CONTEXT

• The Church and Poverty Reduction               –           –           –           65       
• Master /Servant Relationship and Poverty Reduction        –           71       
• The Role of the Poor in Poverty Reduction         –           –           –           72

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

5.1 General Assessment      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           75

5.2 Limitations of the Study              –           –           –           –           –           76       

5.3 Suggestions for Further Study –           –           –           –           –           76       

5.4 Contributions to Knowledge    –           –         –           –           77       

5.5 Recommendations         –           –           –           –           –           –           –           77

5.6 Conclusion         –          –           –           –           –           79       

BILIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

            Poverty is scarcity of human basic needs or man’s inability to acquire his basic needs for existence due to scarcity of resources. Man’s basic needs are generally understood to include food, shelter and clothing. Therefore, when man is incapacitated to make provisions for his food, shelter and clothing, he is regarded as a poor person. Poverty could affect an individual, a group, a community or a nation. Undoubtedly, poverty with its detrimental tendencies has become a global problem and has also attracted global measures to combat it.

Poverty in Nigeria remains significant as many researches such as the work of Olatomide (2012) reveal that seventy (70) percent of Nigerians are living below the poverty line. Some of the causes of poverty have been identified as unemployment, illiteracy, ignorance, laziness, natural disasters, violence, and indiscipline. The high level of poverty in Nigeria alarms every sector in our society particularly the government as concerted efforts have been made by various administrations to annihilate this anomaly. This work appreciates the efforts of the Federal government which has introduced various poverty alleviation programs such as Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), Directorate for Food, Road and Rural Infrastructure (DEFRI), Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP), Poverty Eradication Programme (PEP) but it is glaring that the level of poverty is on the increase.

Interestingly, this paper discusses how poverty can be reduced among Nigerians in the light of the Old Testament patterns of poverty reduction. This implies that the all – important passages of the Old Testament recognized the presence of the poor and also addressed how they could be helped. In fact, the three divisions of the Old

Testament: The Law, The Prophets and The Writings, present various principles which could also be employed in reducing poverty in Nigeria.