The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, has formally requested the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in advancing the Ministry’s efforts to address multi-dimensional poverty, humanitarian challenges, and the growing number of at-risk and out-of-school children across the country. The Minister made this request during a meeting with an AfDB delegation that paid him a courtesy visit at his office. Dr. Doro outlined the Ministry’s comprehensive Reform Agenda, anchored by the proposed “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System” — an initiative designed to enhance coordination, eliminate duplication of interventions, strengthen data management, and improve service delivery to vulnerable populations. He also highlighted plans to establish a National Poverty Data Lab, strengthen the National Social Register, develop a unified beneficiary management system, and implement a Poverty Graduation Pathway to support sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment, among other initiatives. In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing the Ministry’s mandate of lifting Nigerians out of poverty and providing social protection for vulnerable groups. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with development partners to deliver impactful and measurable programmes. Responding on behalf of the African Development Bank, the leader of the delegation — the Bank’s Operations Support Manager — commended the Ministry’s reform initiatives, particularly their emphasis on governance, data-driven interventions, and beneficiary tracking systems. The Bank described the proposals as transformative and well-aligned with its own development objectives. The AfDB delegation expressed readiness to review the Ministry’s proposals and explore areas of support through available financing and technical assistance mechanisms. The Bank also provided updates on its ongoing interventions in Nigeria, including support for at-risk children and social protection programmes. The meeting was attended by Directors from the Ministry and the Honourable Minister’s aide. By Ene Mary McDickson