By Chimezie Godfrey
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction (FMHAPR) has sought the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to advance its ambitious poverty reduction agenda, strengthen humanitarian interventions and tackle the growing challenge of at-risk and out-of-school children across Nigeria.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, made the appeal while receiving a delegation from the African Development Bank during a meeting at his office in Abuja.
During the engagement, Doro unveiled the Ministry’s comprehensive reform agenda, which he said is designed to transform social protection and humanitarian response systems in the country.
Central to the reform package is the proposed “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System,” a framework aimed at improving coordination among stakeholders, eliminating duplication of interventions, strengthening data management and enhancing service delivery to vulnerable populations.
The minister also outlined plans to establish a National Poverty Data Lab, strengthen the National Social Register, develop a unified beneficiary management system and implement a Poverty Graduation Pathway to support sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment for millions of Nigerians.
According to him, the reforms are critical to addressing multidimensional poverty and ensuring that government interventions reach intended beneficiaries more effectively.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in delivering the Ministry’s mandate of lifting Nigerians out of poverty and expanding social protection for vulnerable groups.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with development partners to implement impactful programmes capable of improving the living conditions of citizens.
Responding on behalf of the African Development Bank, the leader of the delegation and Operations Support Manager of the AfDB commended the Ministry’s reform initiatives, particularly its emphasis on governance, data-driven interventions and beneficiary tracking systems.
The Bank described the proposals as transformative and consistent with its broader development objectives across Africa.
The AfDB delegation further expressed readiness to review the Ministry’s proposals and explore possible areas of collaboration through financing and technical assistance mechanisms.
The delegation also provided updates on the Bank’s ongoing interventions in Nigeria, including programmes targeted at supporting at-risk children and strengthening social protection systems.
The meeting was attended by directors of the Ministry and aides of the Honourable Minister.
The engagement marks another step in the Federal Government’s efforts to mobilise international support for poverty alleviation, humanitarian reforms and sustainable social development initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.
FG Seeks AfDB Backing for Poverty Reduction Drive, Humanitarian Reforms
