By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has charged Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations, CSOs to join efforts towards protection of the rights of the vulnerable segment in the society.
This was contained in a press release signed by Grace Osuji, Principal Information Officer of the ministry and made available to Daybreak.
Farouq who was represented by the Acting Director for Social Development Mansur Kulliya gave this charge recently at a one- day forum titled “Strengthening Civil Societies / Non- Governmental Organisations in the COVID-19 PANDEMIC”.
She said, “issues concerning COVID-19 Pandemic cuts across the globe and are reflected in all socio-economic pursuit hence the need for strong partnerships and capacity building to achieve desired result in the protection of the Rights of the vulnerable groups in the Society.
She disclosed that to achieve this the FMHADMSD is strengthening alliance and Networks among NGOs and CSOs at all levels of Government.
Farouq stressed that NGOs has been playing vital role from the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the areas of building Community resilience, supporting vulnerable Communities through food park distributions, supplying of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), among others.
It is also a well-known fact that NGOs/CSOs have been playing a vital role in poverty eradication through collaboration and partnership with various MDAs and other development partners, she added.
“The Ministry, in line with our mandate has developed various programmes aimed at improving socio- economic well-being of the vulnerable groups in Nigeria.”
She said that the ministry has being implementing programmes such as N-SIP in tune with Mr. President’s directive on National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP) replicated at the National kevel which is aimed at achieving macro-economic stability for Nigerians.
Other programmes in line with Federal Government’s poverty eradication programme includes National Home -Grown School feeding programme (NHGSFP) to improve the enrolment of primary School Children and to stimulate local agricultural production and boost the Farmer income”.
