Poverty Eradication: Doro Calls on Nigerians to Protect Vulnerable Citizens
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, has called on Nigerians to protect vulnerable members of society and work collectively towards building a peaceful and inclusive nation.
Doro made the call while delivering his keynote address at the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, held at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, on Saturday, October 17.
The event was organised to commemorate the international day under the theme, “United for Peace and Human Rights: Safe Homes for All.”
The minister said the commemoration provided an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 1 and 11, which focus on ending poverty and ensuring access to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.
With only four years remaining until the 2030 SDGs deadline, Doro urged stakeholders to assess progress made so far and identify areas requiring greater attention.
He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through its Renewed Hope Agenda and the ministry’s One Humanitarian One Poverty Reduction Strategy (OHOPRS), was working to significantly reduce poverty through a multidimensional approach involving relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the fight against poverty is also a fight for peace, stressing that protecting vulnerable citizens and creating opportunities for economic independence are essential to national stability.
“Our task in the ministry is twofold: to protect Nigerians who are vulnerable today; and to open pathways that make them resilient and economically independent tomorrow,” he said.
The minister explained that while palliatives help families survive periods of crisis, sustainable pathways are necessary to ensure that they do not remain dependent on humanitarian assistance.
He identified the Household Prosperity and Economic Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP) as a major component of the ministry’s strategy to move from relief-oriented interventions towards sustainable recovery, empowerment and self-reliance.
Doro also said OHOPRS provides a unified national framework for humanitarian response, social protection, poverty reduction, economic inclusion and graduation, with households at the centre of government interventions.
He noted that mothers and their children remained central to the ministry’s intervention strategies and the measurement of programme outcomes.
The minister added that Nigeria was responding to the objectives of SDG 1 by working towards an inclusive social protection system and strengthening the ability of poor households to withstand economic and other shocks.
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, said the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to poverty reduction.
Olusanya, however, stressed that poverty eradication could not be achieved by the government alone, calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to achieve meaningful and sustainable results.
He appreciated the contributions of development partners and other stakeholders while urging them to intensify their support for the country’s poverty reduction efforts.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the European Union, African AIDS International, the World Food Programme, the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Fidelity Bank Plc, among others.
The representatives reaffirmed their commitment to supporting poverty reduction initiatives and promoting a safer and more peaceful society.
The event featured the presentation of palliatives to some vulnerable members of society as part of activities marking the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
