Why Have Efforts to End Poverty Failed in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examines the question why have efforts to end poverty in Nigeria Failed? It defines poverty as condition or circumstances that impede an individual or group of people from exercising their inherent traits to better their lots. The paper contends that the various poverty alleviation or eradication programmes and measures put in place failed because they are directed at the fruits of poverty and not poverty itself. This emanates from the way the concept, poverty is defined because the ‘’what’’ points to the ‘’Why’’ which give birth to the ‘’how’’. It further argues that poverty eradication is not all about handouts and meeting needs but creating enabling environment that allow the individuals to exercise their inherent traits to better their lots. The enabling environment is not possible to be created because the oppressors (rich) of the oppressed (poor) will not want anyone or anything to change the sta tus quo. Hence efforts to end poverty will continue to fail because the real issue is not addressed.