Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

Poverty is among the major challenges confronting Nigeria, despite the fact that Nigeria is endowed with great (human and materials) potentials that is capable of making it a poverty free nation yet huge number of Nigeria live in poverty level. It is sad that the economy of the country is mired with multiple problems, to the extent that the widespread of economic crisis and global economic meltdown deprive the country opportunity to raise the standard of living of its citizens to an appreciable height or the standard of living match with the potentials. The increasing incidence of poverty in Nigeria is fuelled by a lot of factors like inequality, social strata and social structure. It is against this background that the paper seeks to exegete the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16.19-31) and applies the message of the parable to alleviating the problem of poverty in Nigeria. The paper also reviews that huge number of citizens live in abject poverty while very few are starkly rich. The social interaction shows that the poor are treated with great abandonment from their rich fold. The paper therefore recommends that the rich and highly placed persons in the Nigerian society should abhor any action that will treat the poor with neglect and oppression, intensify caring ministry and biblical reorientation.

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