A transformative social protection programme aimed at lifting vulnerable populations out of poverty has been launched in Benue State through a partnership between the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), with funding from the European Union (EU).
The initiative, titled Support Sustainable Social Protection Systems, is part of a wider effort being piloted in four Nigerian states — Abia, Benue, Oyo, and Sokoto — targeting groups most in need: children, persons with disabilities, internally displaced people, and the poorest households.
Speaking at the official stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, said the programme aims to strengthen the state’s social safety nets by improving policy frameworks and tools used to identify and support those living in extreme poverty.
“Benue State is home to one of the highest concentrations of multidimensionally poor people in Nigeria, with over 75% of the population affected,” Chiluwe said. “This project is not just about relief, it’s about resilience — building a system that can endure economic shocks and reach those who need it most.”
To achieve this, UNICEF has commissioned the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI) to review two key instruments: Nigeria’s National Social Register (NSR) and both federal and state-level social protection policies.
The goal is to ensure the tools are not only more inclusive and accurate but also responsive to the unique challenges in Nigeria’s social and economic landscape — particularly in Benue, which continues to grapple with a high number of displaced persons and poor households.
READ ALSO: Benue Attacks: Over 6,500 Displaced, NEMA Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Representing EPRI at the event, Katharina Bollig outlined the process: “Our job is to ensure that the data and policies guiding these programmes are functional, up-to-date, and practical. We will be conducting in-depth interviews with officials from key ministries and agencies in Benue to get a clearer picture of what works — and what doesn’t.”
Local government representatives are also onboard. The Director General of the Budget and Planning Commission in Benue, Mr. Jerome Andohor, welcomed the intervention, describing it as a lifeline for a state where nearly 33% of the population lives below the poverty line.
“With 1.7 million individuals — about 496,000 households — on the social register, Benue is central to national food security and must not be left behind,” Andohor stressed. “If we neglect this population, it has a ripple effect across the country.”
The programme’s implementation will prioritize child-sensitive measures, and the reviews are expected to generate concrete, actionable recommendations that will be integrated into future interventions.
Ultimately, the collaboration between UNICEF, ILO, the EU, and Nigeria’s federal and state governments aims to build a more inclusive, shock-responsive, and effective social protection landscape — one that truly leaves no one behind.