In today’s life, most people are going through hurdles and difficult times to make up a three square meal while some do not know what difficult times or suffering is all about. That is to say, some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. The question I asked is why must it be so to humanity? The rich seems not to bother in rendering help to the poor in order to bridge the gap that has been caused both by man and nature.
I have gone through the stories of some successful personalities across the globe today and I realized that, there must be a little help or assistant before that name “POOR” can be removed from someone’s lineage. But that will be when the so-called rich person in your family, society or community also has the mind to change someone’s life positively for good development.
I hope you would agree with me, that most of the successful personalities in the world today are not better thinkers than the poor ones around if they are called to perform practically on their diverse field but what I have seen differently is the gap of social class.
Majority of our country’s citizens are passing through difficult times today, not that they wished for what they have found themselves in but the so called rich men and women in our societies contributed hugely to the unfortunate conditions of these poor ones.
Personally, I believe that life is not and cannot be this way. Qualities such as wisdom, hard work and the willingness to go the extra mile do actually make a difference, despite effort and initiative, we are all meant to be the same and have the same in life. I believe that every human being has been created with greatness in mind. Within us all there is a well wonderful incredible potential, but my problem is that these potentials in us all are being undermined by some rich or wealthy individuals in our families, societies and communities.
It means that a lot has to be done by governments at all levels to improve on the life of the people and enrich more of the people. The level of development of a people is measured by the number of the citizens who are well-off.
Nigerians have not erred in any way not be well-off in the sea of wealth and bounties. Jobs should therefore be created to engage the rising population. It is only when this is done that majority will earn their livelihood from legitimate sources while corruption and anti-development factors would be reduced to barest minimum, if not completely eliminated.
I have been thinking and speaking along these lines. How can the rich be all they could be without help or assistance? And why can’t they help others realize their potential after being fortunate. Travelling around, I have noticed that in every living soul, there is a genius.
It is very obvious, that in these present times it has become a norm that the rich becomes richer, while the poor continue to swim in poverty. I found all these so strange as an African and if only we want our African continent to grow and achieve the millennium goal, I believe there is a need for us to embrace that brotherly co-operation between the rich and poor is highly needed in order to make our families, communities, country and continent a better place for ourselves.
Poverty is really a big challenge in Nigeria because of the fact that a hungry man is an angry man. The masses and the youth, statistics have shown are poor. Poverty is the cause of many of our problems. It has compelled many Africans to attach no value and regard to life itself.
A Nigerian Newspaper the Punch on February 14, 2012 reported the National Bureau of Statistics to have said that 112.519 million Nigerians live in relative poverty conditions. This figure which was contained in the 2010 poverty profile report of the agency represented 69 per cent of the country’s total population. I encourage government to create more job opportunities for our citizens to help bridge the gap in our continents hardship.
By: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen