There Shall Be No Poor: for a Better Society

End Poverty- I never truly hated poverty until recently. Years ago, as a teenager, I went to a church crusade organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, led by Evangelist J.T., who was a regional pastor at that time. While he preached, he stated, "I can give you 1500 reasons why poverty will lead you to hell." My young mind didn’t fully grasp it then, but his message stuck with me. Later, during college, one of our lecturers entered the classroom and said, "If you don’t have money and you don’t know God, who are you?" I reflected on his words and realized that knowing God is essential, but having money is also crucial in life. Many people in underdeveloped countries like Africa suffer from poverty because they view money as a luxury or a matter of luck. Some even think that money can lead them to hell, choosing to stay poor instead. I heard about a place in the world where the locals are not allowed to become wealthy; they must remain in poverty. The Bible refers to money as a necessity, stating, "Money answers all things." In my view and experience, poverty is like a disease that needs to be tackled and eliminated. While the poor will always be among us, poverty can be linked to various other factors. As the wealthy dine with golden spoons, the poor struggle to survive. Some can afford to eat whatever they want, while others are limited to what they can find. For instance, how does a family with no income manage to survive? This is the reality for many people in Nigeria, who lack means and receive no government assistance. Some even blame their creators for their poverty. Everyone comes into this world with nothing and will leave the same way. If those in power choose to address poverty, they can, and if we as individuals decide to fight against poverty, we can too. Provide food instead of weapons Someone once mentioned that I should refrain from giving money to individuals in Africa. He went on to say that the wealthy remain rich because they do not share their money. Similarly, it has been said that wealthy Africans are not assisting their own people. I question whether they realize that even the richest person in Africa is still considered poor compared to the wealthiest individuals in the Western world. Those who claim that Africa does not require assistance should reconsider their viewpoint. Africa needs support in numerous areas. I recently read a book by Femi Otedola, where he recounted how his late father was given counterfeit aspirin to control his high blood pressure. This same issue persists in Nigeria today, where people are succumbing to their illnesses due to fake medications. They are dying from poor food, contaminated water, and a low quality of life. Instead of European leaders providing aid to these self-serving leaders, they should invest directly in the impoverished individuals they aim to assist.