Reducing poverty has been plaguing the Nigerian state for time immemorial, and a quite number
of policies and programs were conceived, designed and implemented to some certain degrees
through the ages, however, the efforts are almost fruitless as the incidence of poverty has been
rising defying all the efforts at mitigating its menace. Accordingly, this paper aims at exploring a
paradigm shift in the course of addressing the scourge of poverty in Nigeria. To achieve this
objective a conceptual model for poverty reduction has been proposed by the paper with a shift
from the conventional mechanism or perspective to a proposed ideal Islamic conceptual model
which if adhered to would ensure comprehensive prosperity in Nigeria thereby ensuring poverty
reduction and overall well-being of the Nigerian populace. In the proposed conceptual model this
paper envisaged the role of Islamic ideals of governance and administration in the quest for a
better society free of squalor, hunger, hopelessness and despair. Consequently, relevant
literature were used to develop the conceptual model and a discourse on Nigeria’s strive towards
poverty reduction was carried out. Specifically, the conceptual model emphasized on amanah
(trusteeship), adlah (justice), and istislah (public interest) as the mechanisms that would usherin
and ensure prosperity and poverty reduction in Nigeria.
Keywords: Poverty reduction, Amanah, Adlah, Istisla
