Canadian High Commissioner Jamie Christoff announced that his government would be contributing $18 million to humanitarian efforts in Nigeria.
Canadian officials have announced their willingness to aid Nigeria’s efforts to alleviate poverty and aid those in need as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
This was disclosed by the Canadian High Commissioner during a visit to Abuja’s Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
Various projects will get a total of $152 million from the Canadian government, according to Ambassador Christoff. However, a small percentage has been set aside for emergency aid.
He stated that a portion of the general budget would be allocated in Nigeria to support at-risk female youth and women.
To better coordinate efforts with the government in the driver’s seat, the ambassador applauded the creation of the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund. The Canadian government, he said, might be interested in it.
“I am here with my team to register our support for the mandate of the President in his efforts to alleviate poverty and reduce humanitarian crises in Nigeria through your ministry,” he told the minister.
Jerrymusa.com reports that While thanking the High Commissioner for taking the time out of his busy schedule to pay her a visit and for his warm remarks on President Tinubu’s initiative, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Betta Edu assured him of a reciprocal working partnership.
Edu reminded the High Commissioner of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to reducing poverty and humanitarian crises in Nigeria across all dimensions by 2030, as outlined in the SDGs.
She informed the foreign ambassador that Nigeria’s Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund would be used in a transparent fashion to handle emergency humanitarian responses and concerns about poverty alleviation.
The minister urged the High Commissioner and other humanitarian responders to rethink their roles in Nigeria and provide long-term solutions for “our country.”
To ensure that those who need support the most actually receive it with less duplication and waste, she argued for a fundamental shift in the way partners conduct their programs.