The federal government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and development partners, has highlighted the critical need to strengthen the social protection system in response to growing poverty levels in Nigeria. This emphasis came in a communique issued on Saturday.

The communique, jointly endorsed by UNICEF Representative Cristian Munduate, EU Ambassador in Nigeria Samuela Isopi, and Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, followed the third edition of the Social Protection Cross Learning Summit held in Abuja on Friday.

It outlined that Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous country, faces significant challenges in human capital development, with widespread deprivations in health, education, nutrition, water, hygiene, sanitation, and child protection. The communique underscored the urgent need for comprehensive and effective social protection strategies.

To address these challenges, the Government of Nigeria has initiated a cash transfer program providing a three-month, one-off allocation to states and vulnerable households. This program aims to provide immediate economic relief and mitigate the socio-economic impacts of recent economic reforms.

“Our goal is to create a comprehensive support network that addresses the multifaceted needs of children and families, ultimately leading to improved outcomes in health, education, and overall well-being. We must work together to bridge gaps and strengthen coordination,” the communique added.

Edun also emphasized the importance of integrated social protection systems, noting that Nigeria is committed to ensuring access to social protection for all and removing the barriers that people face in accessing these services.

“As a result, the government is engaged to implement, with the support from relevant stakeholders, including the Social Protection Development Partner Group, the agreed action points from the summit,” he said.

On her part, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Munduate, on behalf of the Social Protection Development Partners Group, said that social protection is crucial in realizing the rights of every child.