ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), an international non-governmental organization, has launched a 10-year strategic plan aimed at mobilizing citizens to address poverty and injustice in Nigeria. The initiative was officially introduced by AAN’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, during the launch of the New Country Strategy Paper titled “Citizens Action to End Poverty and Injustice 2024-2034” on Thursday in Abuja.
Mamedu highlighted that the strategy is grounded in AAN’s extensive experience in Nigeria, drawing lessons from the implementation of previous Country Strategy Plans (CSP) and other programs.
“In this CSP, we are intensifying our focus on addressing multidimensional poverty and the ways in which poverty and injustice are weaponized against the poor and marginalized,” Mamedu stated. He emphasized the need for innovation through a social movement mindset to tackle the complex poverty issues facing the country.
Mamedu pointed out that nearly 12% of the global population lived in extreme poverty in 2023, a situation worsened by conflicts and disasters worldwide. He added that in Nigeria, where the poverty threshold is $1.90 per day, approximately 133 million out of 200 million people are multidimensionally poor, lacking not only financial resources but also access to essential services like education, healthcare, and clean water.
“Even if you are not among the 133 million, it’s likely that someone in your extended or nuclear family is. If we don’t address this now, future generations will face the same challenges,” he warned. Mamedu stressed that hope and belief alone are not enough; they must be accompanied by action, which is the essence of AAN’s CSP.
He noted the historical impact of social movements in driving monumental change and affirmed AAN’s commitment to leveraging this power through four critical actions: Organise, Act, Shift, and Thrive. “Our strategy is not just about meeting immediate needs but also about empowering citizens to drive systemic change,” Mamedu said, emphasizing a human rights-based approach that engages communities as active partners in their own development.
Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, praised AAN’s efforts to complement government initiatives, particularly in the development sector. He highlighted the economic and anthropological challenges of poverty and inequality, underscoring the need for collective action to overcome decades of under-investment in Nigeria.
Bagudu compared Nigeria’s federal budget of $20 billion to those of other populous nations like Indonesia and Brazil, with $210 billion and $700 billion budgets, respectively. “We must confront our reality and ask ourselves what contributions we can make to address these challenges,” he urged, calling for a collective response from both citizens and the government.
Dr. Otive Igbuzor, the keynote speaker, addressed the importance of social movement organizing in eradicating poverty and achieving social justice. He stressed that while the challenges are formidable, they are not insurmountable.
“By embracing catalytic partnerships, collective action, and unwavering commitment, we can make significant progress in consigning poverty and injustice to history,” Igbuzor said. He encouraged stakeholders to join in this critical effort, asserting that “Another Nigeria is not just a possibility but an imperative.”
