By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, says the Federal Government is reforming Nigeria’s humanitarian system to lift vulnerable citizens out of poverty and enable them to contribute to the national economy.
Doro disclosed this on Monday when a delegation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), led by its Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ms. Sylvia Ekra, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
He said the ministry was developing the One Humanitarian One Poverty Reduction System (OHOPRS), a coordinated framework designed to link humanitarian assistance with social protection and sustainable pathways out of poverty.
According to him, the programme is awaiting approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and will coordinate interventions across federal and subnational levels to improve synergy and effectiveness.
Doro said the ministry was also developing 20 models to identify vulnerable populations and guide them through structured pathways towards stability and economic independence.
He disclosed that the ministry was targeting 12,000 out-of-school children for specialized training, noting that some of the beneficiaries might have outgrown the conventional school system and would require alternative learning approaches.
He explained that the initiative would equip the children with relevant skills, certify them for specific jobs and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the economy.
The minister put the estimated cost of the programme at $20 million, adding that four foundations had indicated interest in supporting the initiative.
Doro called on Nigerians in the diaspora to partner with the ministry in its efforts to reduce poverty and improve the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
He also advocated the establishment of a National Economic Trust Fund to mobilize resources from the Federal Government, development partners and philanthropists to support humanitarian interventions.
The minister commended the IOM for its contributions to humanitarian services in Nigeria and congratulated the organization on its 25 years of operations in the country, expressing optimism about stronger collaboration in the years ahead.
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 Doro’s vision and leadership, expressing the organization’s readiness to support the implementation of OHOPRS and contribute to the proposed humanitarian trust fund.
