New Humanitarian Minister visits First Lady, seeks partnership on poverty alleviation
By Kunle Sanni
The newly sworn-in Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has briefed Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on the status of minors recently arraigned for protests and subsequently released on the orders of President Bola Tinubu.
Yilwatda disclosed this following a closed-door meeting with Senator Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, assuring that the minors have been returned to their home states and placed under the care of their respective State Governments.
According to a statement by the First Lady’s spokesperson, Busola Kukoyi, the minister shared with the media that his visit was aimed at forging a partnership with the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), specifically in areas related to poverty reduction.
He commended her efforts, noting that she has been actively involved in supporting vulnerable groups across the country.
“I am here to see the First Lady because we want to establish partnerships to reduce poverty, especially among vulnerable populations, including women, which is a key part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Yilwatda stated.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “Partnership is essential to reducing poverty in Nigeria and expanding humanitarian services to reach everyone.”
The minister further reported that the minors who were involved in the recent protests have been safely returned to their respective states, where they will receive additional support as needed. He added that they are working with the offices of state governors’ wives to ensure the children’s educational needs are met.
Yilwatda also reiterated his commitment to fulfilling the humanitarian goals of the Tinubu administration, aligning his ministry’s work with the Renewed Hope Agenda to alleviate poverty nationwide. He noted that collaborating with RHI on its outreach programs would amplify the ministry’s impact on women, youth, and children across Nigeria.
Yilwatda was among the seven ministers sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, November 4, 2024.
