Nigerian Businesses Partner with UN on Humanitarian Efforts in Aid of Victims of Terrorism and Insurgency

For the first time in the history of the United Nations, there is collaborative effort between the world body and the private sector, in providing humanitarian reliefs to victims of terrorism and insurgency.

Nigeria took the lead at a unique event in Lagos last Thursday, which saw many business leaders and captains of industry converge at the Oando’s Three Wings Complex in Victoria Island, in realisation of the initiative.

The event witnessed the launch of the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund Private Sector Initiative, with the theme ‘Invest in Humanity’.

The Un Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, at the post-event press briefing, told the media that Nigeria is hit by one of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and that since the inception of the fund in 2017, it had been driven largely by foreign donors and over $70m had been expended. The launch of the private sector initiative, he said, would provide a unique opportunity for Nigerian businesses to participate in providing reliefs to the North-East, where Boko Haram insurgents had rendered whole communities homeless and with 27,000 lives lost, in the past few years. Presently, over $373m is needed to provide food, shelter and medication to the 1.7 million internally displaced persons in that region.

At the event, those who made immediate commitments to raise funds include, Mr. Wale Tinubu of Oando, Mr. Jim Ovia, and Mr. Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank.

The business leaders will partner with the United Nations, to support the millions of people in the north-eastern part of the country, whose lives have been hampered by violence and insecurity.

The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund-Private Sector Initiative (NHF PSI), is an initiative to pool donations and resources from the Nigerian private sector, with a view of providing urgent response to humanitarian crisis currently ravaging the North East.

Edward Kallon told the gathering that, “While Nigeria is hit by one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, it is Africa’s biggest economy, and home to one of Africa’s most vibrant private sectors.

“The initiative that the UN and Nigeria’s business leaders will launch on November 15, is a new way for commercial entities and entrepreneurs, to become directly involved in the humanitarian response to the crisis. By tapping into this strong and vibrant private sector, we can collectively provide more aid to more people.”

The only law firm picked alongside banks, oil companies and other corporate organisations which received awards, is Templars Law Firm. The firm was commended for providing free legal services worth over $100,000 to the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund-Private Sector Initiative.

On receiving the commendation plaque, Head of Corporate and Commercial Practice of the firm, Mr. Olumide Akpata said “I am extremely delighted to have been nominated to serve, alongside such eminent personalities, as a member of the UN NHF Steering Group, for a cause which I consider to be extraordinary and most timely, and I definitely intend to contribute my quota to this noble effort, and in the process, add appreciable value”.