THE ROLE OF THE JUSTICE, DEVELOPMENT, AND PEACE COMMISSION (JDPC) OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF IDAH IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN IGALALAND

Abstract

Poverty, in its many forms and understanding, is believed to be responsible for so many problems in human history. It has been a plaque, a puzzle, and a worry, from generation to generation, and many institutions have sought ways of proffering solutions to this global problem. In this regard, Religion is believed to be the most laudable and most effective pathfinder and pacesetter in the direction of a sustainable remedy since it is the representation and the manifestation of the entirety of the human person, life, and worldview. This article, therefore, attempts to study the possible breakthrough of religion in this direction as it examines the activities of the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Diocese of Idah, Kogi State of Nigeria. This is an institution of the Catholic Church, committed to poverty alleviation, and reinstating human dignity through her programmes and projects. Of the many programmes of the JDPC, this work focuses mainly on community development and human empowerment. The work uses primary and secondary sources of data collection, employing historical, sociological, analytic, and evaluative methods to focus on the appraisal of this project in Igalaland. The work concludes that though poverty is a global problem, it has a human face, and the Catholic Diocese of Idah, using human instrumentality and ingenuity, has contributed to alleviating this situation. The role of the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Diocese of Idah in poverty alleviation in Igalaland is a testimony of the synergy between religion and society.