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Tag: Betta Edu

  • COP 28: Betta Edu Seeks Global Leaders’ Support In Providing Durable Solutions To Climate Change-Induced Humanitarian Crises In Nigeria

    COP 28: Betta Edu Seeks Global Leaders’ Support In Providing Durable Solutions To Climate Change-Induced Humanitarian Crises In Nigeria

    The need to provide durable solutions to the impacts of global warming which is one of the causes of humanitarian crises and poverty challenges in Nigeria has been advocated.

    Already, climate change impacts are causing devastating lives and livelihoods every year, a development that requires immediate and determined action.

    These were some of the interactions the Nigeria Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu had with top leaders and participants on the sideline of the ongoing  COP 28, Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Dr Edu said the loss of natural resources, food insecurity, direct and indirect social impacts, and displacement are some of the humanitarian and poverty Alleviation Challenges caused by climate change in developing countries, including Nigeria.

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    The Minister explained that Nigeria is championing going-green policy sustainability as well as providing durable solutions for humanitarian response to reduce multi-dimensional poverty, urging development partners and foreign donors to support the government’s genuine intention.

    She called on humanitarian organizations across the globe, especially those in attendance at COP 28 to support the proactive approach of President Tinubu’s government in addressing the global climate change impacts in Nigeria.

    She said Nigeria will take advantage of the opportunity of the global stage to attract international partnerships that will help in reducing humanitarian crises and poverty challenges in Nigeria in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    President Tinubu who is about to address over 70,000 world leaders had earlier charged all the participants from Nigeria to “Strive for Nigeria to emerge from COP28 with tangible commitments, reinforcing our dedication to a future where energy is not only a catalyst for development but also a driver of environmental stewardship,” he stated.

    Nigeria has joined other countries to formally approve funding for climate impact response.

  • FG, UN Agencies, Others Commit To Coordinated Approach, Durable Solutions To Humanitarian Response In Nigeria

    FG, UN Agencies, Others Commit To Coordinated Approach, Durable Solutions To Humanitarian Response In Nigeria

    …To Raise $5 Billion Annually For Nigeria’s Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund

    It was the first humanitarian coordination meeting in Nigeria in recent times which featured a heart-to-heart frank discussion at the United Nations House, Abuja Tuesday as Nigeria’s Minister For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu engaged Ambassadors, UN agencies, Development Partners, INGOs and NGOs on their Commitment to Humanitarian crises in Nigeria.

    The meeting, which was at the instance of the Minister, brought all the humanitarian responders in Nigeria under one roof, where they all committed to a durable, smart, and coordinated approach to humanitarian response.

    Part of the resolutions of the meeting, was the commitment to raise $5 billion annually for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund in Nigeria by the federal government, other countries, private sector, donor agencies and the Development Partners. The hosting of the African Humanitarian summit, which is a follow-up to the World Humanitarian Summit of Istanbul in 2016, joint field assessment by government and partners. Quarterly humanitarian coordination meeting and Nigerian humanitarian report, creation of the Nigeria Humanitarian Dashboard amongst others.

    Dr. Edu conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s appreciation to UN agencies and development partners for their immense contributions to easing humanitarian challenges in Nigeria. She, however, stressed that the era of  uncoordinated, unaccountable, and silotic approaches to humanitarian response in Nigeria was over.

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    “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does appreciate the effort of the UN agencies as well as other organizations that are working in the humanitarian space. but we just need to bring this effort in a more coordinated manner so that we can achieve more, especially in the face of dwindling resources.

    “There is a need for the government to take the lead and properly coordinate.The days of uncoordinated responses to the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria should be over.

    “The days of operating in silos and duplicating efforts that lead to wastage amongst other things should be over. The government must take the lead to coordinate, to ensure that we are first in line with government priorities, and then secondly, we are meeting our targets.”Plan with government, implement with government, and let’s get the right results in the right direction.

    “Government will follow up. The government will be proactive, and the government will monitor because we want to see results. Like I told you, We signed a bond, so that bond, we will deliver on it together as a team. Yes, we will,” the minister said.

    She emphasized the federal government’s commitment to reduce, prevent, mitigate, and respond adequately to the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria in a more coordinated manner, thereby reducing poverty by 50 per cent.

    On his part, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria,  Matthias Schmale who spoke on behalf of UN agencies  expressed absolute support to the government of Nigeria in its effort to tackle humanitarian challenges facing the country and commended Dr.Edu for providing dynamic leadership in that regard.

    “We’ve heard very clearly from you, honourable Minister, that humanitarian needs of course span the rest of the country.We are here as United Nations Agencies to support in ensuring proper coordination, develop review and implementation response plan, mobilise resources for country response as well as align to Federal Government priorities.

    The UN chief was optimistic that the “Renewed Hope Agenda of the government is leading the way forward in terms of Nigeria being able to deliver on the SDGS, and address humanitarian needs.”

    The Ambassadors of Malaysia, Norway and United Arab Emirates, amongst other Ambassadors present, committed to supporting Nigeria in a more strategic way to address humanitarian crisis.

  • Proper Coordination Of Humanitarian Responses In Nigeria Will Reduce Duplication, Improve Results And Ensure Accountability – Dr Betta Edu

    Proper Coordination Of Humanitarian Responses In Nigeria Will Reduce Duplication, Improve Results And Ensure Accountability – Dr Betta Edu

      …As UN Agency Promises 2024 Intervention Funds To Support Humanitarian Trust Fund

    The Federal government has reiterated the need for all development partners, including the United Nations agencies providing humanitarian services in Nigeria to be properly coordinated by the government and to make decisions during planning for 2024 based on the priorities of the Government.

    According to the federal government, the era of duplicating humanitarian services and wasting minimal resources in the country was over. We must stop working in silos and pull together to see how we can effectively use the little resources available to solve humanitarian crises in 2024.

    Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu stated this when she received in the audience, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), led by the Deputy Director Operations and Advocacy Division in West and Central Africa from UN Headquarters New York at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

    The Minister said the Nigerian government will henceforth take the lead in humanitarian situation reviews using dashboards and implementation of operations in the country to provide a coordinated response and durable solutions to humanitarian challenges in the country.

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    Said Edu: “We need to make joint decisions, Government must be in the driver’s seat, we don’t want to be informed and communicated but we must plan together and implement together that way we can hold each other accountable for what goes on in the field.

    “The era of duplication of functions and services in the humanitarian space is over. We need to stop working in a silo but integrate and coordinate among all the different development partners in Nigeria”

    According to the Minister, in the last cabinet retreat, performance targets were set for all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government. We must not fail!

    Dr. Edu disclosed that her Ministry will be organizing quarterly meetings with all the development partners and agencies rendering services in the humanitarian space. This will help with proper planning and coordination of activities on the field.

    She explained that there will be a dashboard where the operations of all development partners will be known and seen as well as their impacts on the humanitarian field measured, with a feedback mechanism following proper monitoring and evaluation of programs.

    The Minister who commended the efforts of the UN agencies in Nigeria on Humanitarian response, pointed out that after the first meeting, which is coming soon, she will go to field assessment operations with all the development partners to enable them to see things for themselves, this she said, was part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    She again called for immediate deployment of humanitarian services to Benue State, saying the situation there needed urgent attention and immediate action.

    Earlier, the United Nations OCHA Deputy  Director Operations and Advocacy Division in West and Central Africa and leader of the delegation, Sofie Gerde Thomie, thanked the Honourable Minister for the work she is doing for Nigerians affected by humanitarian crises.

    Sofie told the Minister that they came to appreciate President Tinubu’s agenda on humanitarian response and Poverty Alleviation and to further ascertain the humanitarian needs in the Bornu, Adamawa, and Yobe(BAY)States in the Northeast.

    “I am here to see the Honourable Minister and to better understand the situation, the latest developments here in Nigeria, and how we work to support the government in addressing humanitarian concerns.

    “We’ve had very good exchanges on the current humanitarian situation and the developments, in particular in the northeast of Nigeria, and the concerns across Nigeria about the many challenges that the humanitarian actors are faced with as well in the efforts that are made to reach people who need assistance and of protection.

    “And we’ve had very good discussions around how these challenges can be addressed and how we can work together to be even more effective in what we do in a joined-up manner.

    Speaking specifically on Benue, Sofie said, ” We had a very good exchange also about Benue and what can be done in the area and potential support that could be provided. “We are, of course, looking at what types of support we can immediately provide to beef up government efforts,” She added.

    On his part, the UN OCHA Head of Office in Nigeria, Troud Jensen, explained that the Agency has been providing support to those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno states.

    Troud noted that despite investing $50 million in nutrition and social services, the IDPs are still in need of humanitarian support.

    He stated that OCHA was willing to provide $440 million in 2024 to alleviate the suffering of those affected by humanitarian crises in the BAY states.

    “We will provide humanitarian assistance and support the country to mobilize resources, we have plans in the Northeast in areas of nutrition, security, climate change, and provision of shelter.”

    He explained that the agency has mapped out funds to support the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund with the intervention of extending the support to other parts of Nigeria.

    “This year, we have reached out to 3.4 million people in terms of provision of nutrition, shelter, and water,” he added.

  • Humanitarian Response: Gov Alia, Tor Markudi Commend President Tinubu For Fulfilling Promises Made To Benue State

    Humanitarian Response: Gov Alia, Tor Markudi Commend President Tinubu For Fulfilling Promises Made To Benue State

    …Say Edu’s Focus on the National Assignment Unmatched

    Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for fulfilling some of the promises made to the people of the state during his electioneering campaign.

    The Governor spoke during a state dinner organized in honor of the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu and her team at the Banquet Hall, Government House Makurdi.

    The Minister was in Benue to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the Renewed Hope Shelter for poor and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as the distribution of food and non-food items to the IDPs in eight local government areas of the state.

    According to Father Alia, President Tinubu has matched words with action by committing to ameliorating the suffering of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the state, by addressing the humanitarian challenges facing them.

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    He said the people of Benue state have started benefiting from the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, saying Benue people will never forget that the President made a promise and fulfilled the promise on record time.

    The Governor commended President Tinubu for appointing Dr Edu as Minister in charge of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, describing her as a perfect match for the job.

    “Honourable Minister, please convey my appreciation on behalf of the government and people of Benue state to Mr President for fulfilling the Promise made to provide permanent homes for IDPs in Benue State and provide for their livelihood.

    “We are happy as a people and we appreciate Mr President for this gesture. I also thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing a quintessentially young and vibrant Minister to take charge of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, she’s doing extremely well and we commend her and her team for a good job.

    On his part, the first Class Traditional Ruler in Benue State, His Royal Highness, Chief Vincent Awure, Tor Markudi III, was full of effusive praises for President Tinubu for giving the people of the state a new lease of life.

    The Monarch who spoke on behalf of Benue royal fathers said that before the coming of President Tinubu, several communities in the state, including Tatyo and Kyo in Markudi North local government area never knew a day would come when life would be brought back to the communities devastated by herders and bandits attacks.

    Recounting the indignities his people have passed through, the Tor Markudi lamented that they have lost many lives and livelihoods, a development that rendered millions of households homeless, hence their present status as IDPs.

    The Monarch stressed that life now brought back to the communities by the federal and Benue state governments, is phenomenal and they were willing to donate more land for developmental projects.

    He however pleaded with the government for more security around the riverine communities.

    “On behalf of my kingdom, we appreciate President Tinubu for this gesture and also thank the Honourable Minister, my daughter,  Dr Betta Edu for her vision to address humanitarian challenges In  Nigeria.

    “I have been watching her and her passion for humanitarian response from a distance; she is simply unmatched.”

    Earlier, Dr Edu commended Governor Alia, the traditional rulers, and the people of Benue for the warm reception and hospitality given to her and her team during her two-day working visit to the State.

    The Minister assured that her Ministry will collaborate with the state government to provide livelihood for those who have lost their means of survival. While providing transit learning areas for children through the alternate school program.

    “We want to be able to provide durable solutions to those who have already been affected by this humanitarian crisis.

    “Beyond this, we have already picked some markets within Benue state where we will be carrying out the markets money scheme, this scheme is a soft loan, a zero-interest loan to market women.

    “The market women will be registered right there in the markets and the loans provided for them there to support their businesses. We believe it will help the local economy to thrive.

    “There are several other government interventions including the end hunger program, the Code Nigeria program, the YESSO 2.0 program for young people, several interventions that we would be bringing to Benue State.

    “The essence is to see that we can first pull those who are in poverty out of poverty and prevent those who are at the borderline, just at the edge of it from falling into poverty.”

  • Renewed Hope for Benue: Betta Edu, Gov Alia Perform Ground-Breaking For Renewed Hope Shelters In Tatyo/Markudi North of Benue State

    Renewed Hope for Benue: Betta Edu, Gov Alia Perform Ground-Breaking For Renewed Hope Shelters In Tatyo/Markudi North of Benue State

    Nigeria’s Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Renewed Hope shelter for the poor and Internally Displaced Persons at Tatyo and Kyo community in Makurdi North Local Government Area of Benue State.

    She performed the groundbreaking alongside the State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, with a promise to work with the state government in ensuring that the IDPs returned to their ancestral homes.

    Speaking at the event, Dr. Edu said the project was in fulfilment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promise to reduce humanitarian crises and poverty challenges in Nigeria. “The President assured Benue People that if he was voted into power , he would provide security and resettle them back to their ancestral homes where some have been out for over 10 years following the Herdsmen-farmers conflict.

    The Minister commended Governor Alia for ensuring that peace returned to Tatyo and Tyo communities, as well as other communities which have been engulfed by violence since 2012 resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands from their homes.

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    Notably, since 2011, over 12,000 people have lost their lives in tatyo alone, and thousands more rendered homeless due to attacks by suspected armed herders in the Markudi North  Local government area of the state.

    The Renewed Hope shelter, which has a learning centre, health centre, and market,  according to Dr. Edu will be built by the community members in clusters under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in partnership with the Benue State Government.

    She expressed sadness over the IDPs’  experience these past years and pledged that “for these wonderful people that have come from the IDP camps, the journey back to your ancestral homes has begun, “this is the beginning of a journey to return home.”

    “As we drove down here, I felt pain. I felt lots of pain. I saw deserted communities, and I saw the “food basket of the Nation” reduced to want and anguish. President Tinubu says hope is finally back to Benue; we need everyone to go back to the farms so we can have food security!

    The Minister stressed that Benue was key in the food security agenda of the President’s Eight Point Agenda. “Part of  President Tinubu’s eight-point agenda is food security and Benue is the Food Basket of the Nation, this state is therefore, key to him in terms of achieving food security hence peace and tranquility of Benue as well as the welfare of the people are uppermost in his mind,” she said.

    Speaking further, Dr.Edu stated that “You can not reduce the hope of a nation, the food basket of a nation, the food security stronghold of Nigeria to want, pain and anguish. Mr. President has sent me here to give the message of renewed hope to the people of Benue. I can tell you for sure  that hope is here. Hope is here.”

    Earlier, Governor Alia lamented the suffering the displaced indigenes of the state had been through,  saying their plight was quite heart-rending.

    According to the Governor, they’ve been longing to get back home and do what they know how to do best, which is farming. We have been working with the youths, security and faith-based organizations among others to ensure that the displaced persons get on their feet again and possibly return to their ancestral homes.”

    The Governor commended Dr. Edu for her passion and empathy for vulnerable persons in the state and promised to work with the federal government to ensure that the IDPs return to their ancestral homes.

    The Benue state number one citizen applauded President Tinubu for fulfilling his campaign promise to the IDPs by providing Renewed Hope Shelters to them.

    It was a most reassuring experience as thousands of displaced persons danced for joy. It was the first time in 10 years that widows, women, men, children were stepping their feet back in their ancestral land.

  • Circulating Humanitarian Trust Fund Portal Is Fake – Betta Edu

    Circulating Humanitarian Trust Fund Portal Is Fake – Betta Edu

    The Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, wishes to inform the general public that a circulating portal “FG Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund Portal” did not emanate from the
    Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    The said portal is fake,  created by undesirable elements with the sole intention of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

    The Minister said there will never be a portal from either the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation or any other ministries departments or agencies of government or its partners to apply for or access funds from the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund.

    The general public is, therefore, advised to discount the circulating link to the alleged portal as it is the creation of a fraudster.

  • Humanitarian And Poverty Alleviation Minister Begins Market Sensitization And Engagement Ahead of Launch of IYALOJA Scheme For Petty Traders

    Humanitarian And Poverty Alleviation Minister Begins Market Sensitization And Engagement Ahead of Launch of IYALOJA Scheme For Petty Traders

    …Reaches Out To Widows, Poor, And Vulnerable In Some Rural Areas of FCT

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a target to reach at least half the number of poor and vulnerable individuals across Nigeria within the next year and this is in line with his 8-point agenda which has poverty eradication as a priority.

    The multi-dimensional poverty is to be addressed through different programs targeted at the grassroots. The chief driver of this Agenda of Poverty Eradication is the Ministry saddled with the responsibility of Renewing the Hopes of Nigerians daily in their millions.

    Residents of the Ushafa community in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and many other suburbs played host to the Minister Of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as she engaged market women and petty traders ahead of the launch of the IYALOJA MONIE next month. This program has the target of reaching at least 1.5 million Nigerians nationwide.

    Excitement was palpable in the air as the residents trooped out in their numbers to join the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, as she moved from one petty trader table to the next.

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    The Minister who left the opulence and glitz of Abuja city center to reach out to the poor and vulnerable people in Ushafa was pleased with the opportunity to interact with those whom the interventions are meant for.

    Newly christened “The Iyaloja Market  Fund,” the non interest loan of N50,000 would be given to Phase 1 of market traders, selected from 109 markets across every Senatorial zone in Nigeria. The process of sensitization and enrolment is ahead of the flag-off, next month.

    Edu said President Tinubu truly means well for the country and had promised to remove Nigerians from multi-dimensional poverty and humanitarian crises. Presently he is matching words with action.

    She also used the occasion to deliver a message of the  Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the residents on various social intervention programs of President Tinubu’s administration, creating avenues for feedback where necessary.

    Also, at a community engagement, attended by the community’s traditional rulers, youths,  women, the aged, petty traders, and physically challenged persons, food, and nonfood items were distributed to poor and vulnerable households as part of her birthday celebrations.

    She explained that the food and non-food items presented to them were in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, which aims to reduce multi-dimensional poverty in Nigeria. The Minister also used that medium to monitor the inclusion of older people in the community, who have been captured to be part of the ongoing Conditional Cash Transfer.

    Responding, Mabel Imeh Odiegwu, a tailor, Hassan Yakubu a petty trader, and Esther Isa, also a trader said they were taken aback by the presence of the Minister in the Community as such had never happened before there.

    They expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the Renewed attention on the poor and vulnerable in the country, noting that with the speed of implementation, a lot was going to change for the better in Nigeria. We commend the Minister who spent her birthday with us in our community. “We are convinced that truly the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President is real and has touched us.”

  • Edu: Celebrating The Foot Soldier; Poster Girl Of Renewed Hope Agenda @37

    Edu: Celebrating The Foot Soldier; Poster Girl Of Renewed Hope Agenda @37

    By Rasheed Olanrewaju

    In the federal cabinet, she exudes passion, energy,  doggedness, results, dexterity, hard work, goal-oriented, and purposefulness. With these virtues, Dr. Betta Edu, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is arguably one of the faces of the Renewed Hope Agenda of her Boss,  President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. She has just clocked 37.

    At 37, Dr. Edu encapsulates Menachem Mendel Schneerson’s postulation about people born as a special breed. Schneerson: “Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year; The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.”

    She is not your everyday lady. Dr Edu belongs to a different breed of humans.

    She came to the world with a stamp of distinction, the reason she joined the pantheon at an age when her peers were still scratching the ground.

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    A woman of poise, elegance, and impact, it is safe to say that this youngest Minister in the administration of President Tinubu and the Youngest Minister in the 4th Republic of Nigeria is imbued with brawn and brain. When you hear of beauty and strong character, it’s Dr. Edu that is being talked about.

    Dr Edu’s scintillating odyssey tells a gripping story of a woman destined to achieve great things at a young age.

    She is a fitting personification of who the Yoruba would hail as
    “Lati sekere loti nsebebe”, which roughly translates to one who has shown signs of greatness from infancy.

    Given her quantum leap into the limelight and then spiral attainment at a young age,  it is self-evident that for Dr. Edu, her 37th birthday is more than just a day on the calendar. It symbolizes the joyous celebration of enviable milestones attained, uncommon graces obtained, and blessings bestowed.

    In the words of former American President, John Quincy Adams, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader”.  This X-rays the Edu persona.

    Whether as Director-General, of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (CRSPHCDA),  Commissioner for Health, Chairman Forum of Commissioner for Health, National Woman Leader of the APC, or Minister, Dr Edu is an inspiration and role model to young people.

    The diligence and passion she brings to bear in the tasks and jobs assigned to her,  including her current office as Minister speak to her dedication to service delivery and love for her country.

    Dr Edu has demonstrated beyond doubt that when entrusted with positions of responsibility and leadership, young people can after all stand tall.

    In her present position as Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Edu has so far given a good account of herself as an intellectual, a great grassroots mobilizer, orator, an advocate for the downtrodden, and one with deep love for her country.

    At home and abroad, Dr. Edu has at every juncture manifestly justified the trust and confidence Mr.President reposes in her.

    For example, at the Hague, Netherlands where she chaired the EU and representatives of 48 other countries as the head of  Nigeria’s delegation to the just concluded Thematic Meeting of the Rabat Process on Migration, Youth and Development, Dr.Edu’s skillful presentation of Nigeria’s position and her high-level interface with stakeholders on behalf of Nigeria attracted for her effusive praises.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr. Eniola Ajayi had this to say about the Minister: “The government and people of Netherlands have confided in me how proud they were seeing the Minister addressing all issues raised one after the other; they were impressed and they promised to spread the message.

    “The Minister was smart and quick in uptake and able to articulate her position very clearly and firmly.

    “It is really good to see how happy and impressed the government of the Netherlands and its people were.

    “The Minister’s ability to grasp issues and articulate  Nigeria’s Position and explain all the giant strides and  road map of  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to get youths gainfully employed in all parts of the Country was superlative.”

    As part of Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in September, Dr. Edu secured immense mileage for the country through the series of high-level strategic meetings Mr. President assigned to her to hold with various UN agencies relevant to her Ministry.

    Dr. Edu immerses herself in the task of executing a vital component of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr.President which is reducing humanitarian challenges and eradicating poverty in the country.

    She braves dangers and inconveniences to visit volatile and hard-to-reach areas in parts of the country, including IDP camps in Borno and Niger States, Makoko in Lagos, and the Gidan Dawa area of Zamfara to interact with victims of humanitarian crises and the poor.

    In all the places she has visited, Dr Edu spread the message of hope, mingled and empathized with the vulnerable, and distributed relief items.

    Her message of hope is clear and succinct: “The goal is to get everybody wherever they are out of poverty and humanitarian crises…

    “We will close all gaps to ensure Nigerians are out of poverty… We want to increase the social safety net for Nigerians, to pull millions of Nigerians out of poverty.”

    Dr. Edu registered herself in the consciousness of Nigerians in 2015 when she emerged as one of the youngest aides appointed by the then Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade.

    She was also later to become the youngest Commissioner in the Ayade cabinet. A former student union leader at the University of Calabar where she studied Medicine, Dr Edu is blessed with oratory prowess.

    Before she was appointed Health Commissioner in 2019, Edu was first appointed as Special Adviser and later the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), and Special Technical Adviser to the Governor on the Cross River State Privatization Council.

    In 2022 when the post of National Woman Leader of the APC was zoned to the South South Zone, Edu became the favourite of the party. Party chieftains who rooted for her described her as young, vibrant, and energetic; an advocate for women, a great grassroots mobilizer, one blessed with oratory skills and sound education.

    She won the competitive election for the top woman party job, a position she held until her nomination and inauguration as Minister in August 2023.

    Apart from her medical degree from the University of Calabar, Dr Edu holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and a Master of Science Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.

    A native of, Adadama, Abi local government area, in the central senatorial district of Cross River, this birthday girl’s unwavering commitment to her job, her fatherland, and humanity has attracted the attention of many Nigerians, including the respected Sheu of Borno, His Eminence, Abubakar Ibn Umar Al min El-Kanemi who had this to say about her: “I have been watching you closely since you assumed office and I can see the passion and energy you have exhibited on the new assignment”

    As Dr. Edu celebrates her 37th birthday, join me in celebrating My Boss, one of the finest members of President Tinubu’s Cabinet, A detribalized Nigeria that has no place for Religious, tribal, or ethnic sentiments.

    I cannot but wish her joy and happiness and pray that the smiles and joy she spreads around as a woman who loves God and humanity come back to her hundredfold. As she implements the President’s Agenda, I am 100% convinced that she will achieve success.

    Rasheed  Olanrewaju Zubair(ANIPR) is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Honourable Minister.

  • FEC Approves Setting Up of Humanitarian And Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund

    FEC Approves Setting Up of Humanitarian And Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved the establishment of a Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund as part of the administration’s efforts to cushion the economic hardship on vulnerable Nigerians.

    President Bola Tinubu, who presided over the weekly FEC meeting, conveyed the approval to the cabinet members in attendance at the State House.

    Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of humanitarian affairs, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, said the fund is expected to garner up to $5 billion annually from Government, Donors, Private sectors, Philanthropic individuals, and other innovative forms of resource mobilization.

    According to Edu, there would be a governing board that would supervise the implementation of the fund.

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    The Minister said the governing board “will involve key stakeholders that are relevant to the process.”

    “This is a flexible form of financing that is supposed to help Nigeria adequately respond to humanitarian crises, emergencies, and internal displacement challenges as well as adequately address the issue of poverty in Nigeria,” she added.

    “This of course is a victory for the poor and indeed, would bring help and succor which the Renewed Hope Agenda stands for.”

    She said the council also approved the ratification of the African Charter protocol on the protection of the rights of older persons in Nigeria.

    “We have signed up to the African charter and this has made us one of the countries within Africa that has approved that older people be protected and should not be discriminated against at any level,” Edu said.

    “This gives older Persons a lot of protection and the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is interested in their welfare and protecting their rights.”

    In September, Edu, while speaking on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States announced the setting up of the Trust Fund. These are some of the implementations of some of the resolutions the President and his Delegation reached at UNGA78.

    Edu said 30 percent of the funding is expected to come from the federal government while the balance of 70 percent is expected from donor agencies, the Private sector, other Nations’ Development partners, etc.

    According to the Minister, the fund would have several governing cadres with a structure that would show accountability and transparency, while reducing bureaucracy in putting up an adequate response to humanitarian challenges in any part of the country.

  • Dr Betta Edu Makes President Tinubu’s Administration Proud In Netherlands – Nigeria Envoy, Ajayi

    Dr Betta Edu Makes President Tinubu’s Administration Proud In Netherlands – Nigeria Envoy, Ajayi

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has been described as a government that knows how to head-hunt and harvest intellectual professionals imbued with the Renewed Hope road-map on poverty alleviation and humanitarian challenges not only in Nigeria but on the continent of Africa.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Netherlands, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, made this known when she received the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Ed, and her entourage to the Nigeria House in the Hague.

    The Envoy said the presentation of the Minister at the ‘Rabat Process Thematic Meeting’ On Migration, Youth, and Development clearly showed she is a round peg in a round hole.

    Ambassador Eniola said Edu, spoke growly of  President Tinubu’s policy framework on reducing Humanitarian crises and multi-dimensional Poverty in Nigeria and his efforts to tackle the causes from the tap root which includes illegal migration among the youths.

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    According to her, “The government and people of Netherlands have confided in me how proud they were seeing the Minister addressing all issues raised one after the other; they were impressed and they promised to spread the message.

    “That is the Netherlands for you, they don’t pretend, they will spread the message as they see it either way, but in this case, they have told me how impressed they were with the Nigerian government over President Tinubu and Dr Edu’s efforts to curb illegal migration and reduce humanitarian and poverty crises in Nigeria.

    “The Minister was smart and quick in uptake and able to articulate her position very clearly and firmly.

    “It is really good to see how happy and impressed the government of the Netherlands and its people were.

    “The Minister’s ability to grasp issues and articulate Nigeria’s position and explain all the giant strides and road map of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to get youths gainfully employed in all parts of the Country was superlative.

    “I do not doubt that Nigeria will have a tangible takeaway from the Rabat Process Meeting, that I have seen already.”

    Responding, Dr Edu thanked the Ambassador and her team for the warmth reception accorded her and her entourage upon their arrival at Amsterdam and  Hague, saying the Renewed Hope Hospitality was uncommon.

    She said the Ambassador’s discipline and strict adherence to due process was worthy of emulation as the image carrier of Nigeria in the kingdom of Netherlands.

    The entourage of the  Minister to the ‘Nigeria House’ included, the Honourable National Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Hon. Aliyu Ahmed Tijani, Ambassador Catherine Udida, Mr. Valentine Ezulu, Abubakar Suleiman, and top government functionaries.