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Nigeria's private sector joins United Nations to tackle humanitarian crisis in North-East

Countries
Nigeria
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

Lagos, 16 November 2018 – Leading Nigerian companies from the banking, energy, legal and consumer services sectors, among others, have joined forces with the United Nations, in support of the Government of Nigeria, to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the country’s north-east.

The United Nations Nigeria Humanitarian Fund-Private Sector Initiative (NHF-PSI) was launched on Thursday in Lagos, marking the first time that the private sector is collaborating with the United Nations through a country-based fund that pools resources to deliver humanitarian aid to people in need.

The crisis, triggered largely by the ongoing conflict in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, has claimed the lives of 27,000 people over the last decade. Today more than 7 million vulnerable women, men and children are in need of life-saving aid, such as food, safe water and medicine.

“I am proud to be a part of this unique opportunity for the private and public sectors to collectively offer solutions to a local humanitarian crisis. The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund-Private Sector Initiative creates hope for our disadvantaged citizens and promotes social development for our dear nation,” said Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando PLC, one of Africa’s largest integrated energy solutions providers.

The initiative aims to not only harness the financial resources of Nigeria’s dynamic private sector, but also the entrepreneurial and innovative expertise of Africa’s largest economy, in a move that will see the country’s private sector working alongside the United Nations and Member States, and also international and Nigerian non-profit organisations who are working on the front lines of the response.

“The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund-Private Sector Initiative presents a unique opportunity to create a blueprint for future private sector engagement in humanitarian action across the globe,” said Mr.
Edward Kallon, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria. “Investing in the vulnerable people of north-east Nigeria is an investment in humanity that will last for generations. That is business for good.”

“Together we – the private sector and the UN – can take meaningful and high-impact decisions and actions, merging our money and our minds, helping our countrymen, and building on progress made so far,” said Jim Ovia, Founder and pioneer Group MD/CEO of Zenith Bank.

Fourteen companies and groups announced their support for the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund-Private Sector Initiative, and will join to form a Steering Group, the collaborative efforts of which will raise awareness and resources, while promoting innovative solutions, to support humanitarian action in the north-east. The Steering Group, Co-Chaired by Jim Ovia, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, and Kyari Bukar, of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, include Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc; Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd; Olumide Akpata, Partner, Templars Law; Patrick Akinwuntan, Managing Director and CEO, Ecobank Nigeria Plc; Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director and CEO, Access Bank Plc; Yaw Nsarkoh, Executive Vice President for Nigeria and Ghana, Unilever Plc; Onyeche Tifase, Managing Director and CEO, Siemens Nigeria Ltd; Dr. Bryant (ABC) Orjiako, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc.

Nominated members include Georgios Polymenakos, Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd and Country Manager, Coca Cola Hellenic Group; Kemi Okusanya, General Manager, Visa West Africa Ltd, Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange and Samaila D. Zubairu, President and CEO, Africa Finance Corporation.

The event in Lagos was hosted and sponsored by Oando Plc, and additional sponsorship was provided by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Access Bank Plc and Unilever Plc, enabling a strong start to this collaboration.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.