17th October is declared by the UN General Assembly as WORLD ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY DAY. It is a day set aside to create awareness on the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries.
The UN General Assembly declares October 17th as WORLD ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY DAY. It is a day set aside to create awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly developing countries.
The International Day for the Elimination of Poverty was first observed on October 17, 1987. More than one hundred thousand individuals assembled at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honor those who suffered from extreme poverty, violence, and hunger.
The attendees declared that poverty violated human rights and emphasized the importance of coming together to uphold these rights. These beliefs were engraved on a commemorative stone unveiled on that day. Since then, individuals from diverse backgrounds, ideas, and social statuses have convened every year on October 17th to reaffirm their commitment and solidarity with impoverished individuals.
Millions living in extreme poverty are a moral outrage in a world characterized by unprecedented economic development, technological means, and financial resources. Poverty is not just a matter of finances but a multifaceted problem that includes a deficiency of income and the fundamental abilities required to live with respect and honor.
People in poverty face several interconnected and interdependent inadequacies that hinder them from achieving their entitlements and continue their impoverishment. These inadequacies include:
- Dangerous work conditions
- Lack of employment
- Unsafe housing
- Lack of nutritious food
- Unequal access to justice
- Lack of political power
- Limited access to healthcare
And a lot more.
The COVID-19 pandemic will likely have pushed between 143 and 163 million people into poverty in 2021. The progress toward reducing global poverty has experienced its most significant setback in the previous three decades with COVID-19.
According to Aljazeera, Nigeria is the top oil exporter in Africa, which has helped to create wealth related to crude sales that account for more than half of government revenue. But a failure to diversify the economy and build much-needed transport and power infrastructure has hindered growth and the spread of wealth beyond a wealthy elite.
As reported by the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics in 2020, 40% or 83 million individuals in Nigeria are living in poverty. While the poverty profile for 2021 has not yet been made available, it is predicted that the number of people living in poverty will rise to 90 million, or 45% of the population, in 2022. The World Bank anticipates that the inflation rate in Nigeria for 2021 will be 16.5%.
We at Nnaedozie Thomas Foundation (NTF), having looked at the socioeconomic crises in society from the COVID-19 pandemic to the lack of jobs and a lot more, decided to engage in poverty eradication programs, which include; Operation Feed the Nation, Better Life for Rural Women/Men, Family Economic Advancement Program, etc.
We need to channel our efforts toward reducing poverty and making poverty a thing of the past in our society.