In commemoration of the 2015 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Landmark University organized a discussion forum among students to address factors responsible for the prevalence of poverty across the world with a view to eradicating the menace in our society. This is a part of the conscious effort of the University in confronting the intertwined challenges of hunger, poverty and unemployment in Africa through her unique agrarian revolution.

The celebration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17th October 1987 by resolution 47/196, designated to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.

This year’s celebration themed, “Building Sustainable Future: Coming together to end Poverty and Discrimination”, was explored by the University Community to further create awareness on the collective responsibility of people towards eradicating poverty and discrimination through sustainable agriculture and agribusiness which Landmark University is vigorously driving.

The interactive session of the celebration of the Day with some students of the University disclosed that poverty has claimed lives of many innocent children. They opined that transformational policies and strategies needed to be put in place to address the worrisome effect of poverty and destitution in all countries of the world. The people living in poverty are supposed to have representation in the decision making processes of the governments in transforming their lives and communities. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty therefore promotes dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty, their communities and the society at large. A few students bared their mind on the concept and reality of poverty in our society.

Queen Onuoha Faith, a 300 level student of the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering said the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty represents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard and a moment to recognize that the fight against poverty is still on.

King Ahunanya Isaac, a 200 level student of the Department of Sociology also noted that poverty is a state of mind which manifests long after it has been nursed. In his opinion, once a man is poor in his thoughts, it will show on the outside.

King Akpo Victor, a 100 level student of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering said that once a man can meet the basic human needs which include food, clothing and shelter, such a man is not poor.

The outcome of poverty manifests in the increased rate of crimes and other social vices which could endanger the society. It is therefore everyone’s responsibility to work towards eradicating poverty and generating wealth in our society.