ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has said that a sum of £60 million will be needed for the implementation of its various poverty-alleviation programmes in 26 states of the federation.
Currently, the organization is implementing various poverty-reduction and capacity building programmes in 222 communities where it currently works.
The AAN’s Interim Country Director, Funmilayo Oyefusi, gave the hint on the plan to raise funds for the implementation of the various ongoing projects and others soon to be initiated in Abuja, , during the public presentation of its five-year Country Strategy “Social Justice to End Poverty 2018-2023” (SJEP).
Oyefusi pointed out that social justice to end poverty campaign was designed to ensure fair and even distribution of resources among the rich and poor in the country, linking the socio-economic disparity between the rich and the poor to injustice.
She clarified: “What we want to do is for every Nigerian to give us at least N2000 a month which translates to N24, 000 every year. That will help us to deepen our work at various states where we currently work. We are now in 26 states and over 222 communities but we want to be able to reach more communities and what we are saying is redistributing resources to ensure that we end poverty.
“We feel that there is so much injustice in the country and that is what is leading to inadequate redistribution of resources within the country. This strategy is looking at how we ensure that the resources are distributed equally. For the period of six years we intend to raise £60 million pounds from donors, local fund raising, institutional donors, and from high value network individuals that can give us money,” Oyefusi added.
In her remarks at the forum, the Regional Head of Action Aid International, Ojobo Ode Atuluku, said the expected outcome of the SJEP project included, enhancing peoples power in democratic and inclusive governance, improved quality of life for girls and women, and improve participation of women in accountable humanitarian and resilience system, among others.
ActionAid Nigeria commenced programmatic operations in January 2000 after a Country appraisal which identified poverty in the midst of plenty.
Following the adoption of the appraisal report, it commenced work then through a Country Agreement signed with the National Planning Commission and is currently working in 26 states in the country in its sustained commitment to alleviate poverty, particularly among the socio-economically deprived people in the communities.
