Why poverty is prevalent in Nigeria, by minister

MINISTER of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina has blamed the alarming rate of poverty in the country on social exclusion, especially neglect, marginalization and deprivation of the vulnerable segment of the population.In a statement to mark the 2012 International Day of Families, in Abuja, the minister observed that 'discrimination and unequal access to social services deprive families of the opportunity to plan a better future for their children.'She assured that the Transformation Agenda of the present administration was committed to national development strategies that would guarantee a new lease of life for Nigerian families and the nation as a whole.The minister lamented prevalent poverty in the land, adding that most violent and destruction of lives and clashes in the country were as a result of it.'The more we understand what the implications of poverty are, particularly, the impact of poverty on the family and society, the better we can design policies in ways that are proactive, comprehensive, effective and functional'.She stressed the need to examine how families could be supported and strengthened to enable them play the roles ascribed to them by society.Meanwhile, the wife of the Abia State Governor Mercy Odochi Orji has urged parents to use the day to reflect on the successes and failures in their performance of their parental obligations by balancing their responsibilities for the training of their children and still contributing positively to their career growth.Speaking at the Okpara auditorium, she said the central message of the day with theme: 'Ensuring family work balance,' provided opportunity to promote awareness on issues relating to families and accelerate appropriate actions.
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