Nigeria is strengthening its poverty reduction strategy by moving beyond immediate humanitarian assistance to create sustainable pathways through which vulnerable households can build resilience, achieve self-reliance and contribute to shared prosperity.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, stated this in New York while convening a high-level side event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

The event, titled “Beyond Assistance: Reducing Poverty, Advancing Protection and Building Shared Prosperity,” brought together government officials, development partners and international experts to examine strategies for reducing poverty and strengthening protection for vulnerable populations.

Doro said the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, was implementing interventions aimed at helping vulnerable Nigerians move out of poverty and achieve sustainable livelihoods.

He stressed that vulnerable households require more than short-term assistance, noting that they also need credible pathways to resilience, self-reliance and shared prosperity.

According to the minister, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would continue to focus on interventions that address vulnerability while creating opportunities for sustainable development and improved livelihoods.

The side event was convened in partnership with Innovations for Poverty Action, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), IQS and the Learning Economy Foundation.

Messages and contributions were received from the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Hajiya Amina J. Mohammed, represented by Mr. Mohamed Yahya; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; and IOM Deputy Director-General, Operations, Ms. Ugochi Daniels.

Other experts also contributed to the discussions, which highlighted the need for humanitarian interventions to protect vulnerable populations while supporting longer-term pathways out of poverty.

The participants emphasised that humanitarian assistance must continue to save lives, but should also be complemented by measures that strengthen resilience, promote self-reliance and create sustainable opportunities for vulnerable communities.