Nigerian government launches poverty intelligence lab to target 140 million poor citizens

This initiative seeks to address the estimated 140 million Nigerians living below the poverty line. Dr. Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, unveiled the lab, stating it will serve as the central hub for intelligence and evidence gathering for the government's anti-poverty interventions. Speaking at a workshop in Abuja, Doro emphasized the need for a new approach to poverty, anchored on data, evidence, and accountability, moving away from assumptions and fragmented interventions.

The lab is described as the "intelligence backbone" of Nigeria's poverty reduction architecture, providing analytical support for policy formulation, program implementation, resource allocation, and performance assessment. It will also support the One Humanitarian One Poverty Response System, a framework designed to harmonize assistance and initiatives to permanently lift vulnerable households out of poverty. Mrs. Fumi Ayeni, Country Representative of Innovations for Poverty Action, a partner in the initiative, highlighted that the collaboration will help policymakers understand the needs of poor populations and reduce duplication in programs.

Dr. Abimbola Fasanu, Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister on Information Systems and Data Analysis, stressed the importance o