By Mordi Chukwunonso Esther
The Federal Government has restated dedication to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years while celebrating international day for the Eradication of poverty 2020 in Barwa community.
This year marked the 27th anniversary of the international day for the Eradication of poverty after it was declared by the United Nations general assembly in 1992. The theme for this years’ commemoration ‘’Acting Together to achieve social and environmental justice for all’’
The minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, disclosed this in her opening remarks at the commemoration of the annual International Day for the Eradication of Poverty with the people of Barwa community. She praised President Muhammadu Buhari for lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty through provision of Jobs, availability of loans, introduction of school feeding programs.
This year marked the 27th anniversary of the international day for the Eradication of poverty after it was declared by the United Nations general assembly in 1992. The theme for this years’ commemoration ‘’Acting Together to achieve social and environmental justice for all’’
The United Nations declared this day special as an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty and a chance for them to make their concerns heard.
The minister, represented by Director, Humanitarian affairs, Ali Grema said ‘’She was delighted to commemorate the international day for the eradication of poverty with the community.
‘’This administration remains dedicated to the principles of international protection of vulnerable persons and shall align the National frameworks with the provisions of the United Nations’’.
She revealed that the ministry will continue to work with key stakeholders and Agencies under its supervision to ensure the actualization of the President’s goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years as the national bureau of statistics has it that 40 per cent of the total population in Nigeria live in poverty.
The people of Barwa community also lauded the Federal government for building them a Health centre and sinking a borehole to provide potable water for them.
The ministry of humanitarian affairs had adopted Barwa community as a pilot community at last year’s celebration of the international day for the Eradication of Poverty and supported the community with the construction of a Medical facility and provision of portable water by drilling a borehole through the community and social development project (CSDP).
The head of the community, Chief Monday Kogi, expressing his appreciation to the government on behalf of the people said that before the ministry’s visit last year, they had no health centre or portable water. He said, ‘’Since your first visit on October 17, 2019, we witnessed the construction of a borehole in Barwa community and the building of a Health centre. On behalf of the people of Barwa community and the building of a Health Centre. On behalf of the people of Barwa community, we say thank you’’.
This year, the Ministry donated three hand washing points with washing kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) including soaps, face masks and hand sanitizers to families and a community pot to mark the day while symbolic hand washing was demonstrated.
Also speaking, the chief executive of waterlight Initiatives (NGO) Engr. Prince Ero Ibhafidon expressed his excitement over the accomplished projects constructed in Barwa community which they supported the ministry in achieving. He said ‘’The vision of the waterlight gate is to alleviate poverty and increase the quality of life of Africans’’.
Ibhafidon also added that it is a good thing, seeing that the ministry is working towards eradicating poverty and helping to make lives better especially given the fact that now the people of Barwa have an health centre and access to portable water which both are an essential part of life. ‘’’The fight against poverty has been ongoing for years. One of the Government’s primary responsibilities is to assist and protect all persons in an equal manner as Poverty eradication is of significant concern’’.
