Dr. Beta Edu (L) and Development Director, British High Commission, Abuja, Dr Christopher Pycrof
The battle to reduce humanitarian crises and end poverty in Nigeria by the federal government has received yet another big boost.
Recently the federal government received similar boost from the United Nations (UN), United Arab Emirates (UAE) and thistime around, it is from the United Kingdom (UK) which has pledged to support the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation with any assistance it might require to succeed in its mandate.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister,Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair in a press release at weekend said, the Development Director, British High Commission, Abuja, Dr Christopher Pycrof made this known when he paid a visit to the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu in her office.
Pycrof said, “I just like to make it absolutely clear to you that the UK Government will provide you with support, we have a team which is focused both on the humanitarian side but also increasingly on the development side as well.
“So we are looking at working to provide durable solutions and we should be able to reduce that sense of separation between the need to provide lifesaving humanitarian support on one hand, and then the need to provide development support on the other.
“We see it as a holistic approach for people to be in humanitarian need for as little time as possible, to work with them to be able to achieve sustainable livelihoods, durable solutions, and then development which benefits everybody here in Nigeria. We have a lot of expertise which I would make available to support the ministry”.
Describing the Minister’s job as “one of the most complicated jobs in government”, Pycrof commended Edu for the excellent manner she has so far piloted the affairs of the Ministry stating that her passion and commitment will make a big difference.
“I think it’s probably safe to say that you have got one of the most complicated jobs in government. Not only have you gotten responsibility for dealing with the humanitarian situation, but then the poverty alleviation agenda means that you are also going to be involved in financial issues, in health, agriculture, education, infrastructure and employment etc. And you must coordinate from federal government with the State governments as well,” Pycrof said.
Responding, Dr. Edu expressed immense gratitude to the UK government for the great support and partnership over the years saying, she was optimistic that working together would berth a better result for Nigeria.
She stated, “we are really very grateful to the UK for continuous support. President Bola Tinubu has carefully selected his agenda to meet the needs of Nigerians in a sustainable manner. His priorities are to eradicate poverty, ensure food security, create jobs and protect the citizens of this country. Nations and development partners must key into this agenda for better coordination and impact. We are glad that you have committed to supporting the Ministry, we urgently require that support to make an impact.
“The Ministry will work with other line Ministries, the State Governments, Local Governments and development partners including great nations like yours to achieve the needed results”.
