Collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and development partners, the Federal Government of Nigeria has emphasized the critical need to strengthen the social protection system to address growing poverty.
This was contained in a communique issued on Saturday, jointly endorsed by UNICEF Representative, Cristian Munduate, EU Ambassador in Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, and Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, at the end of the 3rd Edition of the Social Protection Cross Learning Summit held in Abuja on Friday.
According to the communique, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, faces significant challenges in human capital development, and deprivations in health, education, nutrition, water, hygiene, sanitation, and child protection.
It noted that the situation underscores the urgency for comprehensive and effective social protection strategies.
In response to these challenges, the Government of Nigeria introduced a cash transfer program, providing 25,000 Naira over a three-month period to poor and vulnerable households. This initiative aims to alleviate immediate economic pressures and mitigate the socio-economic impact of recent economic reforms.
“Our goal is to create a comprehensive support network that addresses the multifaceted needs of children and families, ultimately leading to improved outcomes in health, education, and overall well-being. We must work together to bridge gaps and strengthen coordination,” the communique said.
Earlier, in his address, Edun emphasized the importance of integrated social protection systems.
According to him, Nigeria is committed to ensuring access to social protection for all and removing the barriers that people face in accessing these services.
“As a result, the government is engaged to implement, with the support from relevant stakeholders, including the Social Protection Development Partner Group, the agreed action points from the summit,” he said.
On her part, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Munduate, on behalf of the Social Protection Development Partners Group, stated that “Social protection is crucial in realizing the rights of every child.”
She noted that Child-sensitive social protection is key to ensuring that every child reaches their full potential.
