Nasarawa State Government pledges Support for Humanitarian Aid Workers

By Esther Enna

Nasarawa State Government says it will continue to provide platforms for humanitarian aid workers to showcase their prowess in providing community development across the state as the world marks Humanitarian Day .

Governor Abdullahi Sule made the commitment on the occasion of the state’s maiden World Humanitarian Day Celebration in lafia.

World Humanitarian Day is commemorated every nineteenth of August annually to honour humanitarian workers who were killed or injured in the course of their work and those who have continued to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.

The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in two thousand and nine in memory of the nineteenth August two thousand and three bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killing twenty two people including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

It is on this basis that the Nasarawa State Government created the Ministry for Special Duties on Humanitarian Services and NGO’s under the leadership of Princess Margaret Elayo to save lives and alleviate the sufferings of the vulnerable members of the society.

Governor Abdullahi Sule Represented by the Deputy Governor, Doctor Emmanuel Akabe, explained that protection of civilians and humanitarian workers from violent attacks remains his administration’s utmost priority.

Governor Sule paid tributes to Security Agencies and all humanitarian workers who sacrificed their lives for citizens of the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement, North Central, Mrs Abiodun Easiet lauded the giant strides achieved by the state in providing succour to the vulnerable and advised youths to always air their views on governance for the future of the nation.

In a paper on Citizens Role in Nation Building, former Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University Keffi, Professor Bala Suleiman commended the state Commissioner for Humanitarian for working hard for the vulnerable and urged citizens of the state to embrace skills for economic emancipation and poverty reduction.

Earlier, State Commissioner for Special Duties on Humanitarian Services and NGOs, Princess Margaret Elayo explained that the event was put together to highlight the importance, effectiveness, and positive impact of humanitarian aid workers who sacrifice their lives in saving lives and properties.

Princess Margaret Elayo explained that the Nasarawa State Government through her ministry distributed relief materials to victims of natural and man made disasters, palliative in phases across the thirteen local government areas of the state and supported the state government with empowerment of thirty women with stipends to boost their businesses among othes.

The Humanitarian Commissioner while commending Governor Abdullahi Sule for his efforts to ensuring that vulnerable members of the state did not go to bed hungry, pledged continuous collaboration with relevant organisations to save lives and property.

In their good will messages, Speaker Nasarawa State House of Assembly,Danladi Jatau,All Progressives Congress, APC Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Bello, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Labaran Magaji, Board Member Federal University of Lafia, Doctor Ahmed Sule commended the commissioner for working tirelessly to ensure that the vulnerable and persons with disability have sense of belonging in the society.

Highlight of the event were Inauguration of Citizens Assembly presentation of awards, Presentation by persons with disability and music interludes.