The Enugu State government has called for collective action from citizens, communities, civil society organisations, and international partners to tackle poverty.

The state commissioner for human development and poverty eradication, Benedette Okoli, made the call on Friday in Enugu at an event to commemorate the 2025 World Poverty Day.

She noted that no human, regardless of where they live or the circumstances of their birth, should live in deprivation.

Ms Okoli said that poverty is not only about lack of income but also access to education, healthcare, social protection, and dignity, and declared that the government alone cannot eradicate poverty.

She said the theme of the event, “Leave No One Behind: A Collective Call to End Poverty,” requires that the benefit of growth, development, and opportunity reach every home, child, and community.

“When we support local livelihoods, when we mentor a youth, when we invest in rural enterprises, or when we design inclusive policies, we are taking concrete steps toward ending poverty.

“Let us remember that compassion without action changes nothing; awareness without engagement delivers no result. Today, our call is for partnership, for every sector to act with urgency and purpose,” she said.

The commissioner called for renewed commitment to build a future where no child goes to bed hungry, where men and women can live and work with dignity in every community with a fair chance to thrive.

In a goodwill message, Judith Leveille, chief of field services and emergency, UNICEF Abuja, said the organisation was partnering with the state government to fight the scourge.

“At UNICEF, we believe that no child should grow up in poverty and that no family should have to struggle alone.

“That is why we are committed to supporting families and governments in building inclusive systems that not only measure poverty but actively work to reduce it. Tackling poverty demands more than increasing income; it calls for holistic support systems that protect, nurture, and empower individuals and families,” the UNICEF official said.

The state commissioner for children, gender affairs, and social development, Ngozi Enih, attributed poverty to the increasing cases of gender-based violence in the country.

Ms Enih, represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Nkechi Ewih, revealed that poverty was more pronounced in the rural communities and among persons with disabilities.

According to her, any effort to end poverty in Enugu State and Nigeria at large is a welcome development.

Joy-Blossom Eneh, managing director of the Enugu State Operations Coordinating Unit, urged people to register and encourage others to do the same in the social register.

Ms Eneh revealed that registering in the social register would qualify them to benefit from the conditional cash transfer.

(NAN)