The African Union (AU) has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, to the governing board of the African Humanitarian Agency (AfHA).

The AfHA is a newly established continental institution created to coordinate Africa’s humanitarian response and strengthen disaster preparedness.

This is contained in a statement signed by Abimbola Fasanu, the minister’s senior technical adviser on information systems and data analysis, on Tuesday.

The appointment positioned Mr Doro as one of West Africa’s representatives on the agency’s highest decision-making body, where he will help provide strategic direction for humanitarian coordination, policy development and institutional growth across the continent.

According to Ms Fasanu, the nomination was endorsed by the West African regional caucus, coordinated by Senegal, acting as regional dean, before being formally communicated by the African Union Commission.

She said the appointment is for a single, non-renewable three-year term.

She also added that Mr Doro will serve alongside Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Léon Kacou Adom, who was also nominated to represent the West African region on the Governing Board.

Ms Fasanu said the AfHA was established by the AU to enhance Africa’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to humanitarian crises through coordinated, African-led solutions.

The governing board is expected to provide strategic oversight for the agency’s institutional development, humanitarian policies, regional coordination mechanisms and the establishment of regional humanitarian centres across the continent.

“The appointment is widely seen as recognition of Nigeria’s increasing role in humanitarian affairs, social protection and poverty reduction within Africa, while providing another platform for the country to contribute to shaping continental humanitarian policies.

“This appointment is a recognition of Nigeria’s commitment to advancing innovative and coordinated humanitarian solutions across Africa. It presents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to shaping the continent’s humanitarian future through stronger partnerships, knowledge exchange and systems that deliver lasting impact for vulnerable populations.

“Nigeria remains committed to promoting African-led solutions that strengthen resilience, restore dignity and create sustainable pathways out of poverty while sharing our experience in humanitarian reform,” he said.

Ms Fasanu stated that since assuming office under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Mr Doro had led reforms aimed at strengthening humanitarian coordination and expanding social protection programmes.

She identified a major pillar of those reforms as the One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), a framework designed to integrate humanitarian assistance, social protection and poverty reduction into a unified national system to improve efficiency, accountability and long-term development outcomes.

Reacting to his appointment, Mr Doro described the development as both a national honour and a significant continental responsibility.

He said the appointment reflected Nigeria’s commitment to advancing innovative and coordinated humanitarian solutions across Africa.

According to him, the new role presents an opportunity to help shape the continent’s humanitarian future through stronger partnerships, knowledge sharing, and institutional reforms that deliver lasting benefits to vulnerable populations.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with the African Union, its member states, development partners and humanitarian organisations to strengthen regional cooperation and promote durable solutions for displaced persons and other vulnerable communities across Africa.

The minister is expected to participate in the governing board’s inaugural briefing later this month as the AfHA begins implementing its continental mandate. 

(NAN)