KEY POINTS

• The Minister advocates increased collaboration to assist Nigeria’s 3.2 million displaced individuals.
• The empowerment model in Benue State uses a dual approach to assist displaced persons through combination of food and monetary aid.
• The difficulties in distributing food aid demonstrate that food assistance programs require immediate partnering with cash-based programs.

As the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Nentawe Yilwatda urges government agencies to join forces with United Nations organizations and non-governmental organizations to assist the 3.2 million Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria.

At the 47th Lions Day with the United Nations celebration in Abuja, Yilwatda urged urgent development of sustainable approaches which would achieve food security alongside financial independence for displaced communities.

Empowering IDPs with innovative solutions

Minister seeks partnerships, according to Yilwatda it is essential to establish lasting support networks which bring hope back to IDPs. He presented an established project in Benue State which now cultivates 7,000 hectares of land for displaced persons.

The UN and Sustainable Environment and Peace Alliance work together to provide IDPs with labor opportunities that also grant them food and financial compensation.

The farmers sustain themselves with 30 percent of their harvested crops while receiving 70 percent of the harvest from the IDPs under this support system.

Addressing food aid challenges

Minister seeks partnerships, revealed during his interview that IDPs sell food assistance items because they need additional resources for condiments as well as basic necessities.

According to him the individuals sell their rice amounts because they face emergency situations despite wanting otherwise.

Lions club’s continued commitment

The Multiple Council District Chairperson of Lions Club International in Nigeria Anogwi Anyanwu declared renewed organizational dedication to humanistic assistance through hunger relief programs and youth development initiatives and healthcare delivery.

He emphasized that Lions Club International continues partnering with the UN since World War II through NGO relationships to collect funding for essential missions like environmental sustainability and diabetes control besides eyesight protection.