NIGERIA – The United Nations Children’s Education Fund, has committed more than US$270 million to support Nigeria’s continued activities towards poverty alleviation, especially its humanitarian and emergency response plans and projects.
The funds were announced by UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate while visiting the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
Munduate added that as humanitarian actors, UNICEF will continue to support the ministry to better the lives of Nigerian children and the funds would help establish the country’s planned integrated emergency response centre.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Deputy Director, Information, Rhoda Illiya, UNICEF assured that it will provide technical support to build the capacity of the ministry’s staff.
UNICEF would also support the development of a Humanitarian Response Protocol for Nigeria to guide all humanitarian actors to facilitate effective coordination.
Munduate said, “UNICEF will support the establishment of a National Humanitarian Situation Room or Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre (H-EOC) to monitor, mitigate and prevent humanitarian emergencies and build resilience in the system.”
Respondingly, Dr. Edu added that the federal government was committed to lifting 133 Million poor Nigerians out of poverty in a phased approach, especially, the 71 Million extremely poor Nigerians who live under one dollar ninety-five cents per day.
Dr Edu inferred that time was of the essence and all actors needed to run at the speed of light to roll out social programs that would bring relieve to the burdens of the poor.
“Nigerians are eagerly waiting for full implementation of the renewed hope agenda, the time for intense action is now,” Dr Edu reiterated.
The minister said the government would strive to be transparent and accountable in all its processes of the Ministry and that engagement with partners like UNICEF will continue until the government achieves its target.
UNICEF said the agency will support the establishment of a humanitarian emergency operation centre that will help monitor, mitigate and prevent emergencies, and also help the ministry build capacity for its staff.
Africa’s largest economy is struggling with record debt, unemployment, and insecurity that have contributed to years of anaemic growth.
Sluggish growth, low human capital, labour market weaknesses, and exposure to shocks are holding Nigeria’s poverty reduction efforts back, the World Bank said in a report last year.
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