The Concerned North-East Youth Coalition has pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and other stakeholders to consider appointing Hajiya Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

The Coalition made this appeal considering the fact that the ministry has remained vacant for a long time following the sack of Dr. Betta Edu who occupied the seat for few months at the beginning of the current administration over allegations of corruption.

In a press statement issued in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and signed by the Mallam Aliyu Mohammed and Abba Bumsa; Chairman and Secretary of the Coalition respectively, the Coalition expressed frustration at the present humanitarian situation in Borno State and the North-East at large and called for a capable replacement to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country.

The Coalition which is a collection of grassroot youth leaders across the six (6) states that make up the region and social media influencers dedicated to peacebuilding, development, and youth empowerment, insisted that their choice of Hajiya Halimat Adenike Tejuosho is purely based on merit and positive precedents, as she’s known nationally as philanthropist and humanitarian.

“Dr. Tejuosho, Founder and President of the Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation (QATFoundation), has an outstanding track record in delivering humanitarian aid, both nationally and at the grassroots level. Her compassion, strategic vision, and deep understanding of the challenges facing Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities make her uniquely qualified for this position.

“Through her foundation, she has successfully financed and implemented numerous philanthropic initiatives that have directly impacted communities across the federation. Her experience spans all regions of Nigeria, and her relentless commitment to uplifting the most marginalized is unmatched.

“She has been actively involved in providing aid and relief services to regions severely affected by poverty and conflict. Recently, she delivered relief materials worth millions of naira to displaced persons and vulnerable populations in Maiduguri, Borno State following the devastating floods. This is just one of her many humanitarian efforts, and she continues to work tirelessly to alleviate suffering in the North-East and beyond”, the statement noted.

Specifically, the Coalition recognized and applauded her recent personal visit to Maiduguri to provide direct moral and material support to victims of the floods arising from the collapse of the Alau Dam, affirming that, this act of selflessness and dedication to alleviating the hardship of those affected by natural disasters further solidified their belief in her capabilities.

“We have watched with admiration, the sterling qualities of this great lady. Her hands-on approach and grassroots engagement are a testimony to her commitment to humanitarian work. It is our conviction that the unique combination of experience, compassion, and leadership will enable her to effectively coordinate the nation’s humanitarian response and poverty alleviation programs.

“Her grassroots outreach and ability to mobilize communities demonstrate her capability to bridge the gap between government interventions and the needs of ordinary Nigerians, particularly in areas hardest hit by poverty and conflict and mostly under represented and under served.

“We, therefore, strongly urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all key stakeholders to support the nomination and appointment of Dr. Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, trusting that the ministry will deliver impactful and transformative results towards alleviating the hardship as well as significant improvements in the lives of Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots”, the statement concluded.