A Reflection on UN’s Agenda 21 and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria, 2001-2015

Abstract

Humanity, in the 21st century, is confronted with worsening cases of poverty, hunger, ill-health, illiteracy, and the continued deterioration of its ecosystems. However, integration of the environment and development concerns and greater attention to them is capable of leading to the fulfillment of basic needs, improved living standards, better protected and managed ecosystem, and a safer and more prosperous future. No state in the international system can achieve this on its own but together they can in a global partnership for sustainable development. The global partnership on war against poverty was captured in Agenda 21 based on the United Nation’s General Assembly Resolution 44/228 of December 1982. Poverty is a complex multi-dimensional problem with origins in the national and international domain; a problem that has defied a uniform solution capable of global application. Against this background, state’s programmes to address poverty and international efforts and processes of creating a supportive international environment are necessary for a solution to this problem facing humanity. This paper focuses on one of the efforts of the international community under the aegis of the UN to wage a war against poverty. The paper argues that the eradication of poverty and hunger remains a major challenge to mankind and the war against it remains a shared responsibility of all states in the extant international system. The paper concludes that since poverty is a problem that concerns and affects all, all hands must be on deck to wage a successful war against it.