FG seeks collaborative efforts to address IDPs’ plight in Nigeria

The Federal Government has called for collaborative efforts to address the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and jointly develop sustainable solutions to improve their quality of life in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, made the call on Tuesday during his welcome remarks at the opening of the 2025 National Internally Displaced Persons Conference in Abuja.

The conference, themed “Restrategising Investment: Amplifying the Voices of Women and Girls in Internally Displaced Communities,” created a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and commitment to action for IDPs. It aimed to bring together stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions and create a brighter future for them.

While speaking further, Dr Sununu outlined key initiatives aimed at improving the lives of IDPs, including partnering with organisations such as NALDA to launch the Renewed Hope Restoration Project, which seeks to enhance economic stability for IDPs and alleviate poverty.

He also highlighted the commissioning of adult education and ICT training centres in IDP camps to equip individuals with essential skills and supporting resettlement projects, such as the newly constructed Resettlement City in Keffi, to promote stability and security.

The minister emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the fundamental human rights of IDPs and establishing a harmonised response to internal displacement. He highlighted the need for a holistic approach to addressing humanitarian and poverty-related issues in Nigeria.

“This effort is part of the government’s broader strategy to address poverty and humanitarian crises in the country,” he stated.

“The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction is working to develop a National Humanitarian Response Plan and establish a National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to coordinate efforts across the country.”

Also speaking, the UNFPA Country Representative, Dr Gifty Addico, commended the great work being done by the Executive Director of Stand With A Girl (SWAG), Margaret Bolaji-Adegbola, who is a product of UNFPA’s mentorship programme for young persons over the years.

She remarked, “What the world would look like in the post-SDG phase depends a lot on what has been done to ignite the potential of the 10-year-old girl.

“We know today that each year of education delivers an additional 11.7% increase in wages in later life for girls (compared with 9.6% for men).

“We also know that if all the 10-year-old girls in poorer countries completed secondary education, a $21 billion annual dividend would be triggered. Governments, NGOs, and multilateral organisations must make investments in girls an urgent priority.

“Social systems that confine women to the home must be dismantled, with a commitment to increasing the presence, visibility, and agency of women and girls in public spheres such as school and work.

“Impeding a girl’s safe, healthy path through adolescence to a productive and autonomous adulthood is a violation of her rights.

“The choices we all make today—from parents to policymakers, educators to healthcare professionals, economists to entrepreneurs, journalists to community leaders—will shape the future of Nigeria and the world.”

She reiterated that the conference’s sub-themes of Health, Education, and Empowerment underscore the key factors women and girls need to amplify their voices, resonating deeply with UNFPA’s mandate.

“Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled,” she added.

The Community of Action Facilitator at WeLEAD, Funom Yakubu, raised concerns, stating that for too long, the narratives surrounding displacement have been told by researchers, CSOs, and the government, but rarely by IDPs themselves.

“With the convening of this conference, the SWAG Initiative is attempting to begin rewriting that story—together with internally displaced persons,” Yakubu stated.

“As Community of Action Facilitator, I have watched this young organisation ensure that the lived experiences, aspirations, and rights of internally displaced persons are placed at the heart of policy, planning, and practice.

“They have carried, through the WeLEAD programme, the voices of mothers rebuilding futures, youth reclaiming education, and communities that, despite loss, remain unbreakable.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Stand With A Girl (SWAG), Margaret Bolaji-Adegbola, reiterated that the needs of IDP girls are urgent and vital: shelter, food, and water. However, beyond survival, they seek opportunity, dignity, and a future.

“That’s why the WELEAD Project, funded by HIVOS and hosted by EVA, was a turning point. Through this initiative, we equipped women and girls with life-changing knowledge about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

“We created safe spaces where they could learn about family planning, menstrual hygiene, maternal health, and STI prevention—topics that were once considered taboo or simply out of reach.

“The results speak volumes. At the beginning of the project, only 41.3% of participants had basic SRHR knowledge. By the end, 88.9% could accurately identify contraceptive methods and their benefits.

“Awareness of menstrual hygiene skyrocketed from 47.2% to 98%. These numbers reflect more than just data—they reflect transformation.

“Beyond knowledge, there was action. Utilisation of modern contraceptives rose from 19.6% to 62.2%. Access to antenatal care jumped from 28.9% to 67.4%. Perhaps most encouragingly, 89.6% of women reported increased support from male partners and community leaders. This wasn’t just education—it was empowerment. It was participation. It was resilience.”

She concluded, “We are incredibly grateful to our supporters—JHU CCP, HIVOS, EMpower, UNFPA, Mr Lucky Palmer, and the countless individuals who donated through our crowdfunding platforms.

“You stood with us to amplify the voices and lives of women and girls who, despite being displaced, refused to be invisible.”