The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has advocated for the creation of a Humanitarian Trust Fund aimed at financing sustainable humanitarian interventions and long-term poverty alleviation across Nigeria.
Minister Advocates for Innovative Funding
During a courtesy visit by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, and a delegation of priests, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, emphasized that addressing poverty in Nigeria requires substantial financial resources that exceed government capacity alone. He stressed the necessity of innovative and sustainable funding mechanisms.
“We need a Humanitarian Trust Fund for sustainable and result-oriented poverty reduction that will impact positively on all and on the economy of the nation in general,” Doro stated.
Call for Stakeholder Support
The minister noted that the scale of poverty demands a holistic response and urged development partners, philanthropists, and other stakeholders to support government efforts through the proposed fund. “There is the need to find a creative way of sourcing funds to get the vulnerable populace in Nigeria out of poverty and make them economically viable,” he added.
Dr. Doro also disclosed that the ministry is developing a framework called “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Reduction System,” designed to create pathways for vulnerable individuals to escape poverty and live with dignity.
Role of Religious Leaders
The minister commended religious leaders for complementing government efforts in caring for vulnerable Nigerians and encouraging citizens to maintain faith in public institutions. He reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains committed to citizens’ welfare and called for collective support for the government’s humanitarian agenda.
Dr. Doro expressed appreciation to Archbishop Kaigama and his delegation for the visit and signaled readiness for deeper collaboration with faith-based organizations in advancing humanitarian and poverty reduction initiatives.
Archbishop Seeks Partnership
Earlier, Archbishop Kaigama noted that the Church regularly encounters vulnerable persons in rural communities who require urgent intervention, necessitating closer engagement with the government. “By virtue of our religious duties, we meet a lot of people in the villages who are in dire need to survive. That informed our decision to come and interact with you and to see where the government can come in, since we can only do a portion,” he said.
The Archbishop sought partnership with the ministry in supporting vulnerable groups across the country and offered prayers for the success of the ministry and the nation.
