The church and poverty alleviation in Nigeria (original) (raw)
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Poverty Alleviation Policies of Selected Churches in Anambra State, Nigeria
Gnosis: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Theory and Praxis, 2020
Poverty is a social problem. Its alleviation has been one of the major issues that occupy a significant place in the scale of preference of developmental policies of several nations, international organizations, church and other interested stakeholders. Thus, the thrust of this work centers on poverty alleviation strategies of selected Churches in Anambra State: namely how this institution participates in some economic activities, skill acquisition programmes, and empowerment programmes, among others in view of controlling the scourge of poverty. The research methods employed here are: both qualitative and quantitative-survey and documentary research methods of data collection. The survey method collects data through designed research questionnaire and oral interview with some respondents respectively, while in qualitative approach is the content analysis of written sources such as books, journal articles and online sources that are relevant to the research. The findings of this research show that poverty is human-induced problem manifested in the mismanagement of resources and other forms of ills. Selected churches in Anambra State has reduced the effects of poverty through its collaboration with the State and Non-Governmental Organizations in poverty reduction programmes.
THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN TACKLING THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS OF NIGERIA
Journal Publication, 2022
This paper holds that the church in Nigeria is a stakeholder in Nigeria and cannot afford to be apolitical or unconcerned with issues of national development. However, the church should be non-partisan in her posture. Suffice it that this work presents 9 roles of the Church in tackling the dilemma in two approaches. They are: The Roles of the Corporate Church through the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN (4 roles); and The Roles of the Individualistic / Congregational Church (5 roles). Five major problems that the nation, Nigeria should tackle as discussed in this paper are Leadership Failure; Unemployment; Poverty; Corruption; and Security of life and property. These problems are all almost related either in their forms or in their consequences. This paper highlights areas of the connectivity of these problems; whether political, social or economic, or whether in two or all of the three paradigms. The first approach which is the Corporate Church Approach through CAN with four roles are the - Look-out; Activist; Evaluative; and Assessment roles of the Church in all political, social and economic programmes, actions, inactions and policies of the government of Nigeria and comes out with a stand on them. The second – the Individualistic / Congregational Church approach with five roles and one relating to each of the five remote problems stated in this work. They are: Challenging of church members who are politicians at various capacities to be selfless and work for the general welfare on the Nation - Tackling the problem of Leadership Failure; Establishment of firms as well as encourages members to start small and medium scale enterprises - Tackling the problem of Unemployment; Supporting of government by organizing skills acquisition initiatives as well as paying workers commensurate salaries to their expertise - Tackling the problem of Poverty; Sanitizing herself of any known corrupt official in her helm of leadership and anyone among her members indicted on any accusation of corruption - Tackling the problem of Corruption; and Continuous preaching against and prayer for the arrest or repentance of the main actors of the breach of security in Nigeria - Tackling the problem of Security. Among the recommendations given to achieve the Corporate Roles of the Church through CAN is that the department of ‘National Issues and Social Welfare’ of CAN be equipped and reconstituted with Christian Professionals and Intellectuals / Academicians to respond and react on programmes, schemes and policies of the government of Nigeria from political, social and economic angles accordingly. These workers could also include pastors trained in these secular disciplines as well.
Poverty and Philanthropy: Understanding the Church's Initiatives towards Poverty Reduction
International Journal of Scientific Research Studies, 2024
Global poverty is one of the world's most pressing contemporary problems. Different scholars define poverty in different ways. According to the United Nations (1995) and the World Bank (1990), poverty can take different forms like homelessness, an inadequate, unsafe, and degraded environment; hunger and malnutrition; poor health; limited or no access to education and other essential services; increased morbidity and mortality from illness; and social exclusion and discrimination. In all these, the African continent is not exempted. Faith-based organisations, including the church, have always played a central role in supporting those experiencing poverty. The objectives of this study are to examine the causes and effects of poverty and its prevalence in contemporary Nigerian society. The study will also ascertain the roles some churches are playing in poverty reduction. Interviews with some selected Christians were conducted. The researcher also interacted with some secondary sources like related literature, newspapers and internet sources. Findings revealed that some churches in Ilorin West L.G.A employ different methods like setting up welfare committees; organizing workshops and vocational training and empowerment; free education and scholarship to the indigents; securing jobs for the people; and providing free transportation to relieve members of the financial burden of transporting themselves to church. These findings and implications were discussed within the purview of divine command theory towards the reduction of poverty. The following recommendations were made at the end of the paper: The Church must have an interest in or concern for the poor and demonstrate philanthropic gestures to them; involvement in advocacy for poverty reduction in public spaces; organization of training in proper income management and growth.
THE PLACE OF THE CHURCH IN THE SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LIBERATION OF NIGERIA
This paper sought to point out the glaring and undeniable need for socio-political and economic liberation in Nigeria. It centred primarily on the prominent role religion, particularly the Christian religion, can play in achieving this noble project and pursuit of socio-political and economic liberation. By adopting the historical method of documentary analysis, these issues were discussed under three broad sections. The first section attempted a clarification of the key concept, 'Church' as used in the paper. The second section discussed the reality of the need for socio-political and economic liberation in Nigeria, tracing it from the global via the Third World situations. The third section dealt with the religious factor in achieving the desired socio-political and economic liberation in Nigeria. This was based on the radical potency and capacity of the Church for confronting and transforming the unjust social order. However, maintaining that the Church as a body should not get herself involved in partisan political activism, the paper outlined some possible functions by which the Church in Nigeria can contribute immensely towards the desired liberation. These included prophetic denunciation of the oppressive mechanism; promoting programmes of raising social consciousness among the masses; practical alleviation of the conditions of the oppressed masses; peace building through positive reconciliation of the oppressed and oppressive members; and personal conversion of the ordinary man. The paper concluded that a combination of the task of spiritual and social liberation enhances the Church, more than any other institution, to influence the socio-political and economic life of the Nigerian society so positively as to restore justice, equity and peace.
Reducing Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa - Two Development Theories and the Role of the Church
2012
This research aims at discussing some of the ways in which both the Basic Needs Theory of development in Jeffrey Haynes and the Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF) in John Rees, seek to reduce poverty in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). The Church´s role of providing basic needs within the Comprehensive Development Framework was also discussed. Conceptual and argumentation analysis methods were used. Most countries in Africa are confronted with worsening poverty, hunger, ill health and high unemployment. According to the World Bank (2009), about one in two person lives on less than US $1.25 per day, with almost 70 percent living in rural areas, thirty-two out of the forty-eight poorest countries are found in SSA. The International Labor Organization (ILO) in 1976 sought to alleviate poverty by Basic Needs Theory of development which urged the various governments to endeavor to provide basic needs (food, housing, clothing, and public services, and so on) to their citizens. According to Haynes, the theory failed because the developmental agenda became absorbed into the wider cold war ideological division, and also because of the unwillingness of the ruling elites and their supporters in many developing counties to facilitate the necessary financial transfers upon which the successful delivery of basic needs strategy pivoted. This led to the redefinition of the role of the state since it could not provide basic needs solely. As a result of this, Poverty Reduction Strategies such as Structural adjustment Program (SAP), Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative, and others were birthed. These Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) process was the main basis for implementing the CDF principles which are intended to translate a country's poverty reduction strategy into a focused action plan. The CDF was proposed by the World Bank in early 1999 as a means by which countries can manage knowledge and resources to formulate and execute effective strategies for economic development and poverty reduction. The CDF among others stresses strong partnerships among governments and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other development actors of which the church is part. According to Rees, the church (example the World Council of Churches) is skeptical to associate with the secular institutions including International Financial Institutions (IFIs). However, the Catholic and Lutheran churches' social ministries mandate it to work with non-church institutions to bring about development. Thus the church has a holistic mission which allows it to seek justice to bring about transformation through empowerment, and works for peace and reconciliation. In some parts of Africa, some churches have been very proactive in terms of provision of basic needs comprising material, social, psychological and bodily as well as spiritual well-beings. This is done through support and advocacy. The IFI´s decision to involve the church in its efforts to reduce poverty is not only laudable but also realistic since the church has long been involved in the provision of basic needs in SSA.
Some opinion holders have harangued that being the largest Black Country in the world, Nigeria may be the next world power. Successive Nigerian governments have desired to have Nigeria a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and to be listed among world’s 20 strongest economies by 2020. Such desires have been matched with almost flawless planning but something almost always go wrong at the execution of such lofty agendas. A cursory look at Nigeria, reputed to have over 160million population, depicts the peoples as intensely religious, worshipping varied deities and demonstrating uncommon passion and commitment to their chosen faith but divided along tribal, religious and socio-economic lines. Since exponents of religion contend that religions are intended to infuse divinity into humanity, making humans less barbaric and more humane in their relationships with one another, it is expected that there would be some cultural overflow of religious legacies into the psychosocial and political atmosphere of the country. This was certainly the case in the early years of Nigeria’s independence. This was a time of relative peace, a season devoid of armed banditry and pen robbery as we see since the 1980s. Given the present scenario of underdevelopment of Nigeria coupled with negative image peddled about Nigerians in the diaspora and prevailing religious bigotry, it becomes expedient to review the place of Christianity (which incidentally is the foremost in terms of spread and influence) in sustainable national development in Nigeria. Globally, Christian nations seem to fair better socioeconomically and politically than others. It is also taken in Nigeria that Christians are the more educated, perhaps more exposed than other religious adherents. The Bible also list Christians as the light of the world and the salt of the earth. The premise here is that as the Church became engrossed in materialistic cares of the world system, she became an offence to God, thus persecution became a pattern more in Northern Nigeria and is fast spreading even to traditional Christian enclaves in southern Nigeria today. Darkness naturally takes centre stage whenever light recedes, so is the case of Nigeria in contemporary times. Moral conscience for which many of the tribes and races were known for has become strange to the succeeding generations. Thus, it is commonplace today for cult groups and witchcraft societies to flaunt their paraphernalia publicly, acts which were not socially acceptable in the yesteryears. To whom much is given, much is expected. If Christianity gave United Kingdom, United States of America and other western nations of the world a head start, in sustainable Knowledge for Global Development vi socio-economic and political development, over other nations of the world, Nigeria may also leverage the Christian faith for her development, which has been more of a mirage for succeeding governments. All depends on the moral courage and readiness of the Church to carve a niche for herself in the sands of time. Repentance is the key to revival and revamping Nigeria and her ailing economy. This well-articulated book, Role of the Church in Sustainable National Development, seeks to answer the question of bringing Nigeria out of the woods utilising the instrumentality of Christianity. Starting out from the place of prophecy in national development, a lot has been said concerning the place of Nigeria in God’s end time programme. It will take only a revived, purposeful and united church to make the Word of God a reality for Nigeria. Christian youths must begin to showcase Christ for others to see and come to the light of Christ. This book is a must-have for everyone who is depressed about the present state of the black man and seriously wants answers to the question, “What is the matter with the black man?” The glorious light of the gospel must begin to shine all over for the present darkness to be wiped out. The end of this age is at hand; in order not to be caught napping when Jesus Christ returns the second time, we need to set our lives, families, and indeed our country Nigeria in order. Prof Donald Abidemi Odeleye, PhD Ife
A Roman Catholic perspective on religions and the state in search of the common goodin Nigeria
Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 2012
This paper uses "Religion" and "state" interchangeably for church and politics, church and government, and church and civil society. The two are undeniably autonomous and function in different domains, and yet they live in sybiosis, sharing common concerns and interests. The Church's mission is apolitical, but she cannot remain on the sidelines in her prophetic office of relating the Gospel to the practical world of today for the sake of the promotion and salvation of humanity. To arrive at a "Roman Catholic perspective" on the need for cooperation towards the common good, the paper reflects upon specific papal documents, pastoral letters, and episcopal communiqués. Finally, within the current Nigerian context, the fight against increasing poverty and misery, injustice, and the apparent flourishing of the greedy and corrupt, are identified as examples of possible areas for collaboration between church and state.
The Church and National Development: towards a Philosophy of Collaboration
2012
In many parts of Nigeria, many Christian Dioceses are celebrating their centenary-hundred years of evangelization within the particular area. As this has been the tag of several diocesan celebrations in the past five years, it has become relevant to examine the contribution of the Church to Nigeria's national development. The present study, using Catholic Church as a point of reference examines the contribution of the Catholic Church in the area of social justice, humanitarian services, education, morality, economic development and peace and her role as a prophet and the conscience of the nation. The result of this study will hopefully unveil the enormous contribution of the Catholic Church to national development. The paper further observes the need of the Church to constantly renew herself and her
The church and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa
Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae (SHE), 2015
The snail-pace of social and economic development within sub-Saharan Africa is of major concern not only to the development community, but to all who have the continent's well-being at heart. Various attempts (many rather elusive) at diagnosis and prescription of the right antidotes to the problem have been made for decades. This paper, however, shares Jeffrey Sachs's optimism in End of Poverty with the point of departure being that organised religion holds the key to a reversal of the trend. The paper explores the impact of religious beliefs on the development of some communities in the past and the present before concluding that Christianity could unlock the prospects to sub-Saharan Africa's economic fortunes. In the view of this researcher, African theological reflections, in response to the challenges of endemic corruption, nepotism, superstition, and bad work ethics on the continent, must be grounded in the language, traditional beliefs, values and practices (i.e. culture) of the people as grounds for integration with the modern scientific and technological advancement that confronts the continent. This underscores the need for Christianity itself to become that culture which is willing to accommodate a consciously reconstructed past as the pathway to a developed future.
NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLES OF THE CHURCH - VOLUME 2
Some opinion holders have harangued that being the largest black country in the world, Nigeria may be the next world power. Successive Nigerian governments have desired to have Nigeria a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and to be listed among world’s 20 strongest economies by 2020. Such desires have been matched with almost flawless planning but something almost always go wrong at the execution of such lofty agendas. A cursory look at Nigeria, reputed to have over 160million population, depicts the peoples as intensely religious, worshipping varied deities and demonstrating uncommon passion and commitment to their chosen faith but divided along tribal, religious and socio-economic lines. Since exponents of religion contend that religions are intended to infuse divinity into humanity, making humans less barbaric and more humane in their relationships with one another, it is expected that there would be some cultural overflow of religious legacies into the psychosocial and political atmosphere of the country. This was certainly the case in the early years of Nigeria’s independence. This was a time of relative peace, a season devoid of armed banditry and pen robbery as we see since the 1980s. Given the present scenario of underdevelopment of Nigeria coupled with negative image peddled about Nigerians in the diaspora and prevailing religious bigotry, it becomes expedient to review the place of Christianity (which incidentally is the foremost in terms of spread and influence) in sustainable national development in Nigeria. Globally, Christian nations seem to fair better socioeconomically and politically than others. It is also taken in Nigeria that Christians are the more educated, perhaps more exposed than other religious adherents. The Bible also list Christians as the light of the world and the salt of the earth. The premise here is that as the Church became engrossed in materialistic cares of the world system, she became an offence to God, thus persecution became a pattern more in Northern Nigeria and is fast spreading even to traditional Christian enclaves in southern Nigeria today. Darkness naturally takes centre stage whenever light recedes, so is the case of Nigeria in contemporary times. Moral conscience for which many of the tribes and races were known for has become strange to the succeeding generations. Thus, it is commonplace today for cult groups and witchcraft societies to flaunt their paraphernalia publicly, acts which were not socially acceptable in the yesteryears. To whom much is given, much is expected. If Christianity gave United Kingdom, United States of America and other western nations of the world a head start, in sustainable socio-economic and political development, over other nations of the world, Nigeria may also leverage the Christian faith for her development, which has been more of a mirage for succeeding governments. All depends on the moral courage and readiness of the Church to carve a niche for herself in the sands of time. Repentance is the key to revival and revamping Nigeria and her ailing economy. This well-articulated book, Role of the Church in Sustainable National Development, seeks to answer the question of bringing Nigeria out of the woods utilising the instrumentality of Christianity. Starting out from the place of prophecy in national development, a lot has been said concerning the place of Nigeria in God’s end time programme. It will take only a revived, purposeful and united church to make the Word of God a reality for Nigeria. Christian youths must begin to showcase Christ for others to see and come to the light of Christ. This book is a must-have for everyone who is depressed about the present state of the black man and seriously wants answers to the question, “What is the matter with the black man?” The glorious light of the gospel must begin to shine all over for the present darkness to be wiped out. The end of this age is at hand; in order not to be caught napping when Jesus Christ returns the second time, we need to set our lives, families, and indeed our country Nigeria in order.