Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has made a case for a new approach from donor-dictated humanitarian and development aid to a needs-driven and community-centered model for the benefit of vulnerable populations.
Mrs. Buhari stated this on Tuesday during her keynote address at the 18th Dubai International Humanitarian & Development Aid Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD) which entered its third day on Tuesday.
The annual event is the world’s leading gathering of policymakers from various countries, UN agencies, and a variety of actors including International Non-governmental Organisations and charities in the humanitarian sector.
In keynote address titled: “SDG 17: A Hand-holding Approach to Partnerships and Sustainable Development: The Nigerian Experience of Aisha Buhari/Future Assured Foundation, Mrs Buhari gave an insight into the huge success of her pet private project, in collaboration with development partners across the world.
She announced the achievement of life-changing milestones in the areas of health, education, women, and youth empowerment for various social groups across Nigeria.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the First Lady, Mr Aliyu Abdullahi, also quoted Mrs Buhari as saying that, “Leaning on partnerships with governmental agencies, development partners, donors, and other actors, the Aisha Buhari Foundation has, over the years, touched the lives of multitude Nigerians through the provision of healthcare centres, schools, and income-generating activities”.
The First Lady of Nigeria further noted that the experience of her private-driven Foundation over the past six years has significantly contributed to the realization of SDG goals 3, 4, and 5, adding that, “this would have been impossible without the support of dependable partners in the peace and security, development and humanitarian clusters”.
She said, “I, therefore, advocate for a paradigm shift from donor-centered development aid, to a truly localized community-centered approach in building capacities for implementing humanitarian and development assistance.
“It is pertinent to reflect more than ever before, on the issues of accountability, transparency, and trust in humanitarian aid delivery”.
This year’s conference has drawn participants from across the globe, including the Director-General, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACADI) of the U.A.E, Dr. Hamad Al Sheikh Ahmed Al Shaibani, the European Commissioner for Crises Management, Mr. Janez Lenarcic, the Secretary-General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Mr. Jagan Chapagain, and the Secretary-General, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, Dr. Sergio Piazzi.
Others are Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent Authority, and Dr. Manal Mohammed Taryam, the CEO of Noor Dubai Foundation and other dignitaries.
