The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, has said the Federal Government is reforming Nigeria’s humanitarian sector to lift vulnerable citizens out of poverty, reduce the impact of social crises and empower beneficiaries to contribute to the nation’s economy.
Doro stated this on Monday, when a delegation from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, led by its Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ms Sylvia Ekra, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
The minister said the reforms were in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reduce poverty and improve the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.
He disclosed that the ministry’s proposed One Humanitarian One Poverty Reduction System (OHOPRS) was awaiting approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
According to him, the initiative is designed to connect humanitarian assistance with social protection programmes, providing a structured pathway through which vulnerable individuals can move from crisis and dependency to stability and economic self-reliance.
Doro explained that OHOPRS would coordinate interventions by federal and state governments to ensure greater collaboration, minimise duplication and deliver better results.
He added that the ministry was developing 20 models to identify vulnerable populations and guide them through targeted interventions towards stability and self-sufficiency.
The minister also disclosed plans to train 12,000 out-of-school children using specialised educational tools designed to meet their individual needs.
He explained that many of the children might have outgrown the conventional school age, making alternative learning methods and vocational training necessary to prepare them for employment.
According to him, the beneficiaries would receive certification in relevant skills to enable them to secure jobs, become economically independent and contribute to national development.
Doro put the cost of the programme at $20 million, adding that four foundations had already expressed interest in supporting the initiative.
He called on Nigerians in the diaspora to partner with the ministry in its efforts to lift vulnerable citizens out of poverty.
The minister also advocated the establishment of a National Economic Trust Fund to mobilise resources from the Federal Government, development partners and philanthropists for humanitarian interventions and poverty reduction programmes.
He commended the IOM for its contributions to humanitarian services in Nigeria and congratulated the organisation on its achievements in the country over the past 25 years.
Doro expressed optimism that the next 25 years of collaboration between the organisation and the ministry would yield greater benefits for vulnerable populations.
Earlier, Ekra attributed the IOM’s progress in Nigeria to its cordial partnership with the Federal Government and the Nigerian people, particularly the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
She commended the minister’s vision and leadership, expressing the organisation’s readiness to support the ministry in implementing OHOPRS and developing the proposed humanitarian trust fund.
Ekra reaffirmed the IOM’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the ministry to improve humanitarian assistance and support efforts to reduce poverty across the country.
