ACF Nigeria lauds Tinubu’s reforms as catalyst for inclusive social protection
The Acting Country Director of Action Against Hunger (ACF) Nigeria, Andualem Fekadu, has commended the economic transformation drive of Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as
- By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Acting Country Director of Action Against Hunger (ACF) Nigeria, Andualem Fekadu, has commended the economic transformation drive of Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a key enabler in addressing longstanding gaps in Nigeria’s social protection system.
Fekadu said the administration’s reform-oriented policies are reshaping the socio-economic landscape, creating pathways for inclusive growth and improved welfare delivery, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
He spoke at the close-out ceremony of an Action Against Hunger project in Jigawa State, noting that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader economic reforms aimed at strengthening social protection frameworks for greater impact.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda has provided clear policy direction and institutional backing to promote inclusive governance and expand opportunities for marginalised populations historically excluded from policy processes.
Fekadu also commended Umar Namadi for promoting transparency, accountability, and prudent resource management, particularly through the implementation of his 12-point agenda focused on economic empowerment and social inclusion.
He added that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded Inclusive Social Protection System and Promoting Rights-Based Interventions project has significantly enhanced participatory governance in the state.
The ACF boss noted that the intervention was deliberately designed to tackle structural gaps in the social protection system, especially the systemic exclusion of vulnerable groups due to socio-cultural barriers, weak civic engagement and limited institutional frameworks.
“The project has strengthened the capacity of government institutions, civil society organisations and community-based groups to influence, implement and monitor social protection programmes using a rights-based approach,” he said.
Fekadu listed key strategies deployed to include inclusive data capture for improved representation of marginalised groups in social registers, as well as targeted training on human rights, gender equality and inclusion for government officials and civil society actors.
He added that grassroots advocacy initiatives empowered women, PWDs and older persons to actively participate in decision-making processes affecting their welfare.
Other components of the intervention, he said, included organisational capacity assessments, advocacy campaigns and structured learning engagements coordinated through the Social Protection Technical Working Group (TWG).
Fekadu further disclosed that the project strengthened the technical and institutional capacity of key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU), while promoting inclusive policy reforms through sustained advocacy.
Highlighting outcomes, he said there were marked improvements across key thematic areas between baseline and endline assessments.
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“Government actors have transitioned from limited technical capacity and weak coordination to improved competencies in programme design, stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue,” he stated.
He added that institutional frameworks have become more coherent, with enhanced coordination mechanisms and gradual adoption of inclusive tools, replacing previously fragmented systems.
Fekadu noted that capacity development planning has evolved into structured, evidence-based processes, while awareness and integration of rights-based approaches into social protection programming have significantly improved.
On broader impacts, he said the project strengthened multi-sectoral coordination through TWG platforms, enhanced social protection information systems and empowered civil society groups, including community-based organisations and disabled persons organisations, to engage in advocacy and monitoring.
