Turkish Govt Partners Humanitarian Ministry On Social Protection, Disaster Responses

Dr. Betta Edu and Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar

"We are grateful to the Turkish Ambassador and his team for this partnership, we have spoken very elaborately on the Turkish Development Cooperation, which would help partner with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to see how they can invest in social protection, support education, promote health and other social protection factors in the country." Dr. Edu.

"As you know, we have a very good relationship with Nigeria, and especially we see Nigeria as the rising star in Africa.

"We want to have two agreements to be signed very early next year, one on the Development Cooperation area and the other one is on the Humanitarian Disaster Area, which will also involve the Turkish disaster Management Authority and NEMA of Nigeria." Turkish Ambassador.

The Turkish Government has expressed it's readiness to Sign Agreement On Donor Development Cooperation for Poverty Eradication With Nigeria. 

Expressing its readiness to partner Nigeria's Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in the areas of social protection and emergency responses, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar, made this known during a courtesy call on the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu in her office in Abuja.

The Ambassador Described Nigeria as a rising star in Africa, saying, it was important that his country and Nigeria collaborate on Humanitarian Crisis Management, Emergency Response Efforts, and Poverty Eradication Infrastructures.

According to the Turkish Ambassador, "As you know, we have a very good relationship with Nigeria, and especially we see Nigeria as the rising star in Africa.

"We want to have two agreements to be signed very early next year, one on the Development Cooperation area and the other one is on the Humanitarian Disaster Area, which will also involve the Turkish disaster Management Authority and NEMA of Nigeria. 

"This will tremendously help, especially in the areas of floods or natural disasters. In the field of the Development Corporation, we will have the kind of sustainable development projects that we can help Nigeria in the areas of Humanitarian and Emergency Response Management as well," The Ambassador said.

The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Edu while responding expressed delight at the Turkish government's willingness to partner her Ministry on social Protection, Humanitarian and Emergency Response Strategies saying both countries would benefit immensely from the synergy. 

Dr Betta stated that, "We are grateful to the Turkish Ambassador and his team for this partnership, we have spoken very elaborately on the Turkish Development Cooperation, which would help partner with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to see how they can invest in social protection, support education, promote health and other social protection factors in the country.

"We would very early in January, after all the documentations have been completed, sign an agreement with the Turkish Government on Development Cooperation and of course disaster management, this will help us in setting up a proper Humanitarian and Disaster Management System in Nigeria. All of these will be brought to fore from the agreements which we will sign."

In addition, the Minister disclosed the Turkish government's willingness "To open an office for the Turkish Development Cooperation in Nigeria after the agreements have been signed and from this office they can directly reach out, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Allevation, to the different states in the country.

"So we are very positive that very early next year in January, we can get all of these signed both in Turkey and back in Nigeria, and we can begin immediate implementation.

"This will help us to tackle Humanitarian Crises well as well as grapple with emergency responses and tackle poverty through the various Development Cooperation Initiatives that we will be working on with the Ministry." 

The Turkish Ambassador was in the company of imdat karakoram, the Deputy chief of mission,Republic of Turkey. 

This was contained in the Press Statement signed and made available to the media by Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister.