CONQUERING POVERTY

There is no doubt that there is lack, want and penury in the land, but this ought not to be so considering the fact that Nigeria is blessed with vast human, natural and material resources.
We are too loaded to witness poverty in our land, but sadly, this is the situation so far. There is no pretence about this.
This poverty issue must be properly addressed. Just last year, 2010, we celebrated the 50 years’ anniversary of our independence. Our independence is important to us, because no nation can aspire for greatness, if the nation is under the domination of a stronger nation. As the late Mamman Vasta said: “A lean liberty is better than fat slavery.” So, it is a good thing that for 50 years back now, we remain free from foreign domination. Politically, at least, we are free. Freedom is the springboard on which a nation any person can launch himself to greatness.
Unfortunately, however, the kind of independence we celebrate yearly is independent from foreign domination. But this is not yet real independence. Independence implies absolute freedom – freedom from foreign domination, economic freedom, political freedom, cultural freedom and of course, freedom from poverty.
What must we do to conquer poverty in our lives and in our land? The answer is simple: we must collectively and individually make up our mind to fight poverty to a standstill. It is poverty that will surrender, not us.
Collectivism
It is interesting to note that we have some modalities in place that are aimed at eradicating poverty in Nigeria. We have the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the FADAMA, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF); there also programmes set up to cater for the needs of women and children alike. It is good we have multiplicity of programmes all aimed at achieving one goal – eradicating poverty by improving the welfare of Nigerians.
This is an indication that collectively, we are making effort towards achieving our goal of improving our condition of living.
However, where we are failing is the manner in which we go about implementing these laudable programmes. We are not taking these programmes to the grassroots, and we are not funding these programmes adequately.
Let us make up our mind to take these programmes to every hamlet, village and town in the country. These programmes should be adequately funded. Let us make more effort in creating more awareness of these programmes and informing people of the benefits they stand to gain.
Let us not assume that Nigerians are aware of these programmes. Some may be aware of these programmes, but they may not realise that the programmes are meant for them.
We shall not pretend or close our eyes to the achievement recorded so far by NAPEP, NDE, FADAMA, ITF, etc.
But I also believe that grater achievement can be recorded if we do the following –
1. The programmes should be taken to every nook and cranny of Nigeria. The programmes should have their offices in every hamlet, village and town.
2. The programmes should be adequately funded.
3. There should be more awareness. People should be informed that these programmes are meant for them and no other persons. This issue of awareness is of crucial importance. Even if these programmes are taken to every part of the country and the people are seeing these offices, if they are not aware that they are meant to improve their standard of living, they may not participate; and the scourge of poverty will continue to ravage them.
Recently, it occurred to me that the Federal Government has gone a long way in encouraging small and medium scale investment in Nigeria, by encouraging the establishment of micro finance banks in the country. As at the time of writing this article, there are 612 micro finance banks and you can find their branches in many towns in the country. They may be more then that now. For a current list, you can visit: www.cenbank.org
But the big issue we have is that even though some people are seeing these micro finance banks all around in their locality, they may not be aware that they are meant for them. That is the issue. When programmes are meant to better the life of people, people should be informed so that they can participate and benefit from them. There should be no room for assumption.
Individualism
Many people have the habit of blaming the government for all their plights. But the fact is, if we are blaming the government for our plight, we are indirectly blaming ourselves, because, substantially, we are the government ourselves.
Therefore, we should not be so bothered about what the government should do for us, but we should rather think of what we can do for the country, or at least think of what we can do for ourselves.
Below are five steps you can take to conquer poverty in your life –
a. Conquer poverty mentality;
b. Conquer laziness;
c. Conquer indecision;
d. Conquer procrastination; and
e. Conquer fear.

Conquer Poverty Mentality
A poor man is not necessarily a man who has no kobo in his pocket, but who has no idea. This is because it is idea that brings the money. So, there is more hope for a man who has an idea, but has no money than a man who has money but has no idea.
Idea is the starting point of all riches. If you lack money-making ideas, poverty is close by. This blog is all about wealth building, and our focus is on helping people to generate wealth building ideas.
So, the first step to take in conquering poverty is to generate wealth-building ideas. In doing so, you must first conquer the poverty mentality within you. You are not poor because God wants you to be poor. You are not poor because you are destined to be poor. Change your mentality. Change your orientation. God wants you to be rich so that you can live a good life and so that through your riches, others will be blessed. Every man’s role is to be his brother’s keeper, but you cannot perform this role fully if you are indigent. The former British Prime Minister, Mrs. Magareth Thatcher said:”No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he only had good intentions; he had money as well.”
Conquer the poverty mentality and replace it with prosperity mentality. Think wealth. Think success. Think abundance. When the thought of wealth and prosperity dominate you mind, your life will gravitate towards prosperity.
Conquer Laziness
“A little folding of the arms and poverty will come like an armed man.
In a sense, poverty is an armed man. It destroys and keeps destroying lives. You also ought to be well armed in order to overcome poverty.
The path to prosperity has not changed. You need to work. Hard work is the weapon you need to defeat poverty. Hard work implies taking your business, occupation, vocation or profession seriously.
If there is anything that will keep a person in poverty, it is laziness. A lazy man is one who does not want to work, or who puts in less effort, but expects great returns. A wise man once described a lazy man as not just the man who does work, but who does not enjoy the idea, and reacts against anyone who is working and making it work. Such a person will have a long time battle to fight against poverty, because, there is no substitute to hard work. It is either you work or you starve.
Ottoman Bismark said: “To youth I have but one word – work! Work!! Work!!! The bokk of proverb also says: “Diligent hands will rule.”
I learnt that the average Japanese works 18 hours per day. This long hour of work is attributed to scientific and technological breakthrough recorded by Japan over the years. I believe if every Nigerian is willing to surpass the present average of 8 hours work per day, we are also going to witness a significant turnaround of our economy.
Conquer Indecision
The mark of a rich man is the ability to take decision at the right time and quickly. The ability to make up your mind quickly and take action is one of the greatest assets a person must possess. The story of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7: 3-10 is illustrative. There was famine in Samaria and they were dying slowly of famine right at the gate of the city. Instead of remaining at the gate and die there, they had two options – either to go into the city or to go out to meet the enemy forces (the Syrians). They chose to go and meet the enemy forces. Surprisingly, the enemy forces were nowhere to be found and fortunately, the landed in abundance. And by the decision of these quartets, the whole nation of Samaria was saved from famine.
The point I am making is that you should learn to take decision early. You should learn to trust your own instinct. God put instinct in you to help you avoid disaster or even death at times. Conquer indecision by learning to trust your instinct when taking decision. It was sheer instinct that saved the four lepers from dying of famine. They acted on impulse and they were saved.
Conquer Procrastination
Procrastination is a bit similar to indecision, but the difference is that, in the case of procrastination, one has already made up one’s mind on the decision to take, but taking that decision or taking the necessary action becomes a problem. The procrastinator continues to postpone the decision endlessly. Procrastination, they say, is a thief of time. Every successful man does not joke with his time. Time itself is money. If your time is stolen, it is your money that is stolen.
Have you been putting off thing you are supposed to do? It is high time you stopped that. If you don’t, you may never be able to do what you ought to do again, because you will continue to postpone it endlessly.
What decision have you taken concerning poverty? What business idea have you planned to execute lately? Have you acquired some practical skill? Have you attended a seminar where you were trained on a lucrative business, but you have still not made up your mind to execute what you have been thought? Now is the time to take action. Enough of that procrastination! Don’t put it till tomorrow what you are supposed to do today. Take action now. Be a man of action. A man of action can never be held down by poverty.
Conquer Fear
If there is anything that will keep a person in poverty for a long time, it is fear. You might have made up your mind to establish your business, but then the question keeps pounding within you: how and where do I get the customers? What if the customers don’t come to buy? That is what fear does. Fear makes us to imagine situations that are non-existent and false. The more you imagine these situations, the more you become bound by fear. In the end, you may not be able to grapple with poverty.
As you are reading this article now, make up your mind never to listen to your fears. The successful people you see today were equally confronted with one fear or the other, but they never gave in to their fears. They went ahead to execute their ideas and eventually succeeded. The fact is, the fears that confront you are not always real. That is why you must not hearken to them. Or do you think your fears are real?
Therefore, don’t be afraid to demand great things for yourself. You have got what it takes to succeed. Affirm your ability to do it and powers you never dreamed you possessed will leap to your assistance.