From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Kaduna State Government yesterday
hosted the Nigeria Poverty Graduation Roundtable, a significant event that gathered key stakeholders to share insights and develop strategies for combating poverty.
The Roundtable, themed “From Pilot to Policy: Building Pathways for National Scale-Up,” included participants from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), civil society groups, development partners, and private sector representatives.
The focus was on sustainable poverty alleviation through the Graduation Approach.
Governor Senator Uba Sani (CON), represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, emphasized the necessity of adopting a practical and politically feasible approach to poverty alleviation.
He explained that the Graduation Approach is a proven model that effectively combines social protection with livelihood support and empowerment, helping households sustainably exit extreme poverty.
Governor Uba Sani highlighted the success of this approach in countries like Bangladesh, India, and Egypt, where it has resulted in significant improvements in income, assets, savings, and food security.
He also announced the recent launch of the Kaduna State Ultra-Poor Graduation Program (KADUPGP), an evidence-based initiative designed to uplift vulnerable households through carefully sequenced interventions. This program is a central component of the state’s social protection and economic inclusion strategy.
Featured speakers at the Roundtable included Fumilayo Ayeni, Country Director of Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA), who praised the Kaduna State Government for implementing Nigeria’s first Ultra-Poor Graduation Program.
Comrade Yunana Markus Barde, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, also spoke, highlighting the importance of collaboration and partnerships in the poverty reduction effort.
The Roundtable aimed to share insights from Kaduna State’s pilot projects, national initiatives, and international experiences to inform poverty reduction strategies. Participants discussed key enablers and barriers to institutionalizing the Graduation Approach and explored practical pathways for broader adoption in Nigeria.
They also examined innovative funding models and partnership frameworks to ensure that the Graduation Approach can be scaled effectively and sustainably.
The Graduation Approach has been successfully implemented in over 40 countries worldwide. Nigeria has a strong foundation for scaling this approach through the National Social Safety Nets Program (NASSP) and State Social Registers. Collaboration and partnerships are essential for achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development.
The Kaduna State Government is committed to strengthening its collaboration with stakeholders to enhance coordination and impact.
The Nigeria Poverty Graduation Roundtable marks a significant step toward establishing a new path for poverty graduation in Nigeria. With the commitment of stakeholders and the demonstrated success of the Graduation Approach in other countries, there is hope for a brighter future for millions of Nigerians living in poverty.
In her remarks, Dr. Funmi Olotu, the National Coordinator of NASSCO, stated that Nigeria is making significant strides in reducing poverty through the implementation of the Graduation Approach, which effectively links social protection with livelihood and empowerment. She addressed Nigeria’s pressing poverty crisis, noting that currently, 40.1% of Nigerians live in monetary poverty, while 63% experience multidimensional poverty.
Dr. Olotu stressed that without strategic solutions, the well-being and prosperity of both current and future generations are at risk.
NASSCO has been actively addressing poverty in Nigeria by building and managing the Nigeria Social Register (NSR), a reliable database of poor and vulnerable households.
The NSR currently includes 19,708,500 households, representing approximately 70,901,460 individuals. Dr. Olotu highlighted the success of NASSCO’s initiatives, including the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) pilot program, which provides beneficiaries with training and resources to create sustainable income streams.
With the launch of the KADUPGP, Kaduna State has taken a significant step toward poverty reduction by supporting households in sustainably exiting extreme poverty through carefully sequenced interventions.
Dr. Olotu commended Kaduna State’s initiative and reiterated the importance of collaboration and partnerships in these efforts.
Poverty graduation is achievable but requires collective efforts, political will, and a commitment to sustainable development. Dr. Olotu urged stakeholders to collaborate in creating a Nigeria where everyone has access to opportunities, resources, and a dignified life.
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