Saudi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (SJHSS)
Volume-2 | Issue-10 | 898-908
Review Article
Islamic Strategies of Poverty Alleviation: A Neglected Dimension of Development in Nigeria
Ahmad Maigari Dutsinma, Muhammad Tasiu Dansabo
Published : Oct. 30, 2017
Abstract
Over the years, Poverty alleviation programs and policies have evolved,
including a succession of policies and plans by Government, Non-Governmental
Organizations and International Donor Agencies. The Nigerian Government at
different times introduced policies and plans with a view to addressing the problem
of poverty but the problem still persists. In spite of these various efforts as
intensified by both internal and external systems, of poverty has become not only
more complicated but almost impossible due largely to a number of challenges
notable among which are both individual and institutional. This amplifies that the
efforts have proven too inadequate to reduce poverty, hence persistence of the
scourge in the country. Using poverty indicators such as literacy level, access to safe
water, nutrition, infant and maternal mortality, and the number of people living on
less than $1 a day, Nigeria is found to rank among the 25 poorest nations in the
world below Kenya, Ghana and Zambia. It is obvious that from 1960 till date, all
Nigerian governments, be it military or civilian, have come up with one form of
poverty reduction or alleviation programme or another, meant to reduce the level of
poverty, give hope and succor to the poor and, or move towards some sort of wealth
creation. Strategies, policies and plans have been formulated and executed over
these years. These programmes have been judged by scholars not to be satisfactory.
Inspite of all such previous government efforts at alleviating poverty in Nigeria, the
incidence and severity of poverty has continued to pose formidable threats to the
welfare of Nigerians and sustainable development of the country. To this end, a
myriad of problems have been identified as constraints on poverty alleviation
programmes in Nigeria. Despite the relevance of religion in solving developmental
problems of Nigeria little is done to explore in the development literature Islamic
strategies of alleviating poverty. Against this backdrop, the paper seeks to explore
the Islamic strategies of alleviating poverty.