Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has highlighted the ministry’s extensive grassroots engagement in tackling poverty.
Professor Yilwatda said this at the inaugural 2025 VON Forum in Abuja. He explained that through community-based initiatives and socialisation efforts, they have established community groups across every village in Nigeria.
He explained that through community-based initiatives and socialisation efforts, they have established community groups across every village in Nigeria. #NigerianVillages #SocialProtection #NigeriaDevelopment
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“We do community engagement, selecting and socialising for the rural community. We meet in every village in Nigeria, covering over 238,000 people,” he said.
This grassroots network, according to the minister, has enabled the ministry to identify and support more vulnerable populations across the country.
Professor Yilwatda further revealed that within just six months, the ministry has disbursed direct support to about 5.8 million Nigerians living in poverty, both in urban and rural areas.
He expressed confidence that the number of beneficiaries would reach 15 million before the end of the year. “Nigeria has about 15 million households, and our goal is to reach them all,” he stated.
He said many of these households consist of vulnerable groups, including some non-Nigerians residing in the country.