October 1: Minister Urges Support for Vulnerable Nigerians

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, has called on Nigerians to strengthen solidarity and shared responsibility towards vulnerable members of society as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Doro said the anniversary offered an opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s independence while reflecting on the collective responsibility of citizens to build an inclusive society. 

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by his Senior Technical Adviser on Information Systems and Data Analysis, Abimbola Fasanu, the minister said government had a fundamental responsibility to protect vulnerable citizens and create opportunities for them to improve their lives.

He, however, stressed that government could not shoulder the responsibility alone, noting that families, communities, civil society organisations, the private sector and development partners all had important roles to play.

Doro said Nigerians had historically demonstrated a strong capacity to support one another during difficult periods and urged citizens to strengthen that spirit of solidarity and mutual support.

“Across our communities, Nigerians have always demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to stand with one another in times of difficulty. As we celebrate 66 years of independence, we must strengthen that spirit of solidarity and continue to be our brother’s keeper,” Doro said. 

He also called for greater emphasis on humanitarian values in schools, urging that children be taught empathy, service, responsibility and respect for human dignity from an early age.

The minister said the treatment of vulnerable Nigerians should reflect the country’s values and commitment to human dignity, particularly in the case of poor and displaced persons, people with disabilities, older citizens, children and families facing hardship.

He said the strength of a society could be measured by how it treated its most vulnerable members.

Doro also stressed that support for vulnerable Nigerians should extend beyond addressing immediate needs to creating opportunities for individuals and households to rebuild their lives, strengthen resilience and become self-reliant.

He said this approach informed the Nigerian Government’s efforts to shift humanitarian and social protection interventions from short-term palliatives towards sustainable pathways that connect immediate assistance with recovery, empowerment and participation in the economy.

“Our responsibility is not only to help people through today’s difficulties. We must also create pathways that enable them to face tomorrow with dignity, become more resilient and ultimately self-reliant,” the minister said.

The minister called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, communities, citizens, civil society organisations, the private sector and development partners to address humanitarian challenges and reduce poverty across the country.

Doro congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians at home and abroad on the 66th Independence Anniversary, expressing confidence in the country’s ability to build a more inclusive, resilient and prosperous society.

He urged Nigerians to renew their commitment to the country and to one another, saying nation-building ultimately depended on protecting vulnerable people, supporting communities and creating opportunities for citizens to live with dignity.

“At 66, let us renew not only our hope in Nigeria, but also our responsibility towards one another. Nation-building is ultimately about people, and the strength of our country will always be reflected in how we protect the vulnerable, support one another and create opportunities for every Nigerian to live with dignity,” he said. 

He wished Nigerians a happy Independence Anniversary and encouraged citizens to uphold the values of compassion, solidarity and shared responsibility.