Humanitarian ministry unveils plan to lift 1.5 Million Nigerians Out of Poverty annually

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has revealed a new initiative aimed at lifting 1.5 million Nigerians out of poverty every year.

Speaking at the 3rd annual conference of social welfare and development directors from across the country, held in Kano, Prof. Yilwatda outlined the ambitious plan, which he said would be achieved through a collective vision and collaboration with various stakeholders.

The Minister was represented at the event by Peter Adanu-Audu, the Federal Director of Social Welfare at the Ministry.

Under President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, the Minister emphasised the importance of unity and teamwork in realising the nation’s poverty alleviation goals. He urged the directors to engage in brainstorming sessions to identify challenges affecting social development programs and to develop innovative approaches for delivering essential services to vulnerable groups.

“We cannot achieve transformative change in isolation,” Prof. Yilwatda stated. “It requires a united front, a shared vision, and unwavering commitment. Today, I challenge each of you to reflect on how you can contribute to this vision. How can we collaborate more effectively and innovate our practices to ensure every Nigerian, regardless of their circumstances, feels the impact of our work?”

The conference was officially opened by the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, who represented the state’s governor. Dr. Baffa highlighted the state’s efforts to promote social welfare, including empowering 5,200 women with N50,000 each across 484 wards, providing N20,000 each to 2,000 persons with disabilities, and training 500 adolescents in vocational skills. He also noted that additional strategic programs are currently in development.

Dr. Baffa called for gender-responsive initiatives and the addressing of domestic violence, access to education, health, and economic opportunities. He urged conference participants to focus on innovative approaches that will empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency and economic stability.

In her opening remarks, Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children, and Disabled, Hajiya Aisha Saji, emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders to strengthen the impact of social welfare programs.

FRCN