Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, has been appointed by the African Union to represent West Africa on the Governing Board of the African Humanitarian Agency (AfHA), the continental body’s newly established institution for humanitarian coordination and response.
The appointment was disclosed in a statement issued by the Minister’s Senior Technical Adviser on Information Systems and Data Analysis, Abimbola Fasanu.
According to the statement, Dr. Doro’s nomination was endorsed by the West African regional caucus, coordinated by Senegal in its capacity as Regional Dean, and formally communicated by the African Union Commission. The appointment is for a three-year, non-renewable term.
On the Governing Board, Dr. Doro will serve alongside Léon Kacou Adom, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire, who was also nominated to represent the region.
The African Humanitarian Agency was established by the African Union to strengthen Africa’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to humanitarian crises through coordinated, African-led interventions. Its Governing Board is expected to provide strategic oversight for the agency’s institutional development, policy direction, regional coordination and humanitarian response, including the establishment of Regional Humanitarian Centres across the continent.
The ministry said the appointment reflects growing recognition of Nigeria’s leadership in humanitarian affairs, social protection and poverty reduction, while providing the country with an opportunity to contribute its experience in developing coordinated humanitarian systems and sustainable development initiatives across Africa.
It added that under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has implemented reforms aimed at improving humanitarian coordination, expanding social protection programmes and supporting internally displaced persons, returning migrants and other vulnerable groups through the One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS).
Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Doro described it as both a national honour and a continental responsibility, saying it recognises Nigeria’s commitment to advancing innovative and coordinated humanitarian solutions across Africa.
He pledged to work with the African Union, member states, development partners and humanitarian institutions to strengthen regional cooperation, improve humanitarian coordination and promote durable solutions for displaced and vulnerable populations.
Dr. Doro is expected to participate in the inaugural briefing of the AfHA Governing Board later this month as the agency begins implementing its continental mandate.
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