In commemoration of this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty held every October 17, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, Thursday led a delegation of government officials and official partners to Barwa village, Airport Road, Abuja.
The visit was immediately after a 7am road work at Old Parade Ground in Garki, which attracted a large turnout of government dignitaries and hundreds of FCT residents.
Officials in her entourage included Minister for Special Duties, Sen. George Akume, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment Programmes, Hajia Mariam Uwais, Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogar, among others.
Addressing residents of the community, Farouq said President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years and that her ministry will ensure the vision is achieved.
She said: “The MHADMSD has poverty eradication as a fundamental part of its mandate and will drive the fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. Under my watch, the ministry will attempt to empower every child and adult living in poverty by putting in place strategic programmes and interventions that will aid economic growth, address social needs like health, social protection and education; in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty in all its forms by 2030.
“We are in Barwa community not as experts who have all the answers or more privileged people, but as fellow travellers and learners willing to engage both children and adults. We will provide a different approach to poverty elimination by placing poor children and families at the centre of decision making, formulation of sustainable programmes and interventions that will lift them out of poverty,” she said.
