Cynthia Ezegwu
The newly appointed Minister of Humanitarian Resources and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, on Tuesday, formally assumed office with a pledge to work closely with ministry staff to improve the lives of Nigerians living below the poverty line.
Speaking at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, Doro promised to implement policies that would “make hope a reality” for millions of disadvantaged citizens in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“My goal is simple. Mr President wants to renew the hope of Nigerians, especially those at the bottom of the economic ladder. By statistics, we have over 60 per cent of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty. I believe we can do better with the resources we have as a country,” Doro said.
“It is our responsibility, as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, to help these people move up from where they are. We must ensure social mobility and make hope a reality for those we serve,” he added.
The minister arrived at the Federal Secretariat around 11:48 a.m. in the company of his wife, Dr Naomi Doro, and was received by the Minister of State, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu; the Permanent Secretary, Dr Yakubu Kofarmata; and other top officials of the ministry.
Doro, who replaced Prof Nentawe Yilwatda following his appointment as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was nominated by President Tinubu and confirmed by the Senate on October 30, 2025. He officially assumed duty on November 6.
Describing his appointment as “a challenge and a call to service,” Doro acknowledged the high expectations surrounding his emergence and vowed to justify the confidence reposed in him by the President and Nigerians.
“For some reason, there have been massive expectations of me. I’m not sure why, but the bar has been set very high. I have to work extra hard to meet, and hopefully surpass, that standard. I believe we will achieve success together,” he said.
READ ALSO: Power Plays, Poverty Alarms, and Political Realignments Shape Nigeria’s Week
Emphasising teamwork and transparency, the minister urged staff to embrace collaboration and trust. “A team is not just people who work together; it is people who trust one another. We will achieve our goals through unity, partnership, and mutual support,” he stated.
Doro reaffirmed the ministry’s core mandate of tackling multidimensional poverty and strengthening institutional capacity to deliver impactful results.
He also praised his predecessor, describing him as “a friend and mentor with big shoes to fill,” while expressing confidence that his international experience and the ministry’s technical team would drive progress.
“Having lived in the UK for over two decades, I may need some adjustment. But with your technical competence and support, we can move this ministry to greater heights,” Doro said, assuring staff of inclusive leadership.
“Together, we can deliver for our people. We will make hope a reality for those we serve,” he concluded.