FG Targets 100 Million Poverty Exit, Minister Calls for More Funding, Partnerships
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, has called for increased funding and stronger partnerships to support efforts aimed at lifting Nigeria’s poorest citizens out of poverty and making them economically viable.
Dr. Doro made the appeal while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) during a courtesy visit to his office.
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to lifting up to 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2029, noting that inadequate financing remains a major obstacle to achieving the ambitious target.
The Minister urged NESG to provide independent costing and analytical support for the expansion of social protection programmes, stressing that credible data and projections from reputable institutions would strengthen advocacy for increased funding and policy support.
He highlighted the Ministry’s flagship initiative, the One Humanitarian One Poverty Reduction System (OHOPRS), describing it as a comprehensive reform framework designed to address fragmentation and duplication in humanitarian and social protection interventions across the country.
According to him, the system is anchored on five key pillars, including improved governance and coordination, the creation of unified national registers, establishment of a national data centre with artificial intelligence capabilities, development of structured poverty exit pathways, and a strengthened financing and monitoring framework.
Dr. Doro explained that the initiative aims to harmonize interventions, enhance transparency, and ensure measurable outcomes, noting that despite significant humanitarian funding inflows into Nigeria, lack of coordination has limited overall impact.
He expressed optimism about partnering with NESG and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable poverty reduction results.
Earlier, NESG leader Seun Ojo reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting government efforts toward inclusive economic growth and evidence-based policymaking.
She explained that NESG operates through a four-pillar model—as a dialogue partner, connector, accountability partner, and technical intervenor—with research and data at the core of its activities. She also highlighted the group’s long-standing collaboration with government since 1993, as well as its flagship annual summit and economic outlook reports.
Presenting research insights, the Head of Research and Development at NESG, Dr. Joseph Ogebe, acknowledged recent macroeconomic improvements, including increased GDP growth, stronger foreign reserves, and reduced fiscal deficits.
He described the period from 2026 to 2029 as Nigeria’s “consolidation phase,” calling for intensified efforts to tackle inflation, strengthen macroeconomic stability, and accelerate structural reforms in key sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing to drive job creation.
Dr. Ogebe commended the Ministry’s efforts in poverty reduction, noting that its programmes play a vital role in translating macroeconomic gains into improved living conditions through expanded social protection systems. He also emphasized the need for sustained collaboration between NESG and the Ministry to achieve lasting impact.
