It’s been interesting reading some of the comments that have continued to trail the claim by some Nigerian celebrities on the cost of their outfits to the recently held African Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) . To some, the claim is a big lie. “It’s funny how you try to justify your lies, real truth doesn’t fight for accreditation”, someone wrote, as a former reality show star who claimed that her dress was worth $20,000 went ahead to share a receipt of $20,000 as evidence of her claim.
Some other people do not see the reason why someone should spend as much as $20,000 to make a single outfit when there are millions of poor people in the country whose lives can be positively impacted with a fraction of that money. Yet, some people see nothing wrong in someone spending her money the way she deems fit. Indeed, Tacha Akide  and the likes have given Nigerians something to chew and the argument may be on for some days to come. One cannot agree less that it is at the discretion of anyone who has made money to spend it the way he/she prefers.
Some people may decide to spend their last kobo on real estate, electronic gadgets, automobiles, ornaments and all that. It largely depends on what gives the person satisfaction. Someone may consider buying a handset worth about 1 million dollar as a stupid act and waste of money while another will deny himself a lot of things to be able to own it. However, one cannot deny the fact that the culture of donating to charity is greatly lacking in our society.
Often,  many people concentrate on themselves and families alone without caring about the poor people around them. Some see charity as an act to be performed by the rich. “I have my own problems; I do not have enough to give”, they will say. Sometimes you even hear people claiming that they don’t do charity because charity encourages laziness. The dictionary defines charity as the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.
It is an act of benevolence. Acts of charity could be in the form of cash, material gifts, quality time or kind words. It could be in the form of providing basic necessities like food, water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, occupation and security. You could give directly, volunteer for a charitable organisation or invest in a charitable trust. One undisputable fact is that we do not live in a perfect world. Everybody’s financial status cannot be the same.
As the saying goes, “all fingers are not equal”. Even the Bible made it clear that there will always be the poor among us.  Unfortunately, in Nigeria, many people are lacking because some people in high authority are sitting comfortably on their rights. Some having served the nation meritoriously for 35 years and retired are denied their pensions and gratuity by their state governments thereby turning some of them who have nobody to cater for them into beggars. Some people have developed a beggar attitude due to lack of employment, food and basic healthcare. Their children go to bed hungry.
Poverty or lack is far from being an African or under – developed countries thing. Even in the developed world, poor people abound. The difference between them and a country like ours is their consciousness towards charity.  Their mindset, value system, and sociocultural ethics are greatly progressive and they make deliberate efforts to cater for the needy in their communities and beyond.  From the start of life, they introduce their children to a tradition of donating to charity, they do this  by creating a family donation box that everyone can add to and choose a charity that the family can support each year; sharing the experience of donating to charity with the children and many more.
Through this way, children are shown from a young age that they can make positive changes in the world. They grow up with a greater appreciation of what they have, and will carry on supporting charity and good causes in years to come. Little wonder the volume of foreign financial donations to charitable organizations in some third world countries. At the opening of the Abuja office of Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation last week, its president, Global Development, Chris Elias, announced that BMGF, the second largest charitable foundation in the world, has invested approximately $1billion (N461bn) in various intervention programmes in the last 10 years of its stay in Nigeria. Many Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country today will not be existing without donations from foreign charitable trusts and philanthropists
No doubt, many Nigerians and organisations (both religious and non-religious) are remarkable when it comes to uplifting the downtrodden in the society.  Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, of the Catholic Church is a typical example of a group that has been a source of joy and hope to the poor, the abandoned, the vulnerable and the captive in various communities and states across the country. This society provides health, welfare, education and other support to these people, giving them reasons to be happy. I recall a particular homeless, blind beggar whose life they impacted greatly through provision of accommodation, adequate health care, feeding, clothing and other support for several years before the man eventually passed on.
Many other religious organisations and other charitable organisations like Feed Africa Foundation, Land of Hope, O.B Lulu Briggs Foundation are trying to make up for the government’s lack of services and social protection for Nigerian citizens but a lot still needs to be done. The harsh economic realities in the country have pushed many people into poverty and it will not be a bad idea if we at this critical time and going forward, can truly be our brothers’ keepers. We all have poor people around us, can we make their lives better by forgoing some luxuries or even needs? Instead of a dress of N30 Million, a watch of N5 million, a hair of N1 million, can we go for cheaper items of high quality and use the balance for charity? Can we begin now, like the people in the western world, build the culture of donating to charity in our children?  Yes, the government owes the citizens a lot in terms of provision of basic amenities, health care, quality education and all that.
We as individuals still have roles to play in making life worth living for our fellow citizens who we are better than. You don’t have to be a millionaire or a billionaire to be charitable. That N100, N500, N10,000 can make a difference in someone’s life. What  about sharing your food, good clothes and other items with the people that do not have it? Most importantly, what about sharing our love and time with the poor people around us and treating them with love and dignity? Luckily, by donating to charity, you are bringing joy and happiness to the beneficiaries as well as yourself.  A writer calls it a major mood-booster.  The fulfilment, the inner peace and joy you derive from helping others is unquantifiable.
A series of studies have identified a link between making a donation to charity and increased activity in the area of the brain that registers pleasure. They found that neurons in the portion of the brain associated with a sense of satisfaction start firing when a person chooses to give. Little wonder it is said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Are there people who abuse other people’s act of generosity? Of course, there are. Should that deter you from being charitable? Not at all. Give whenever you are able, expecting nothing in return and you will be happier for it. As Winston Churchill puts it, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.

By: Calista Ezeaku