By Barth Ikiebe
Nigeria says it is committed to reinforce cooperation focused on human capital development and social protection.
The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun gave the assurance when he received in his office in Abuja, UNICEF’s new Country Representative, Hajar Saeed.
Mr. Edun noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, investment in health, education, and social welfare is central to driving productivity, reducing inequality, and supporting private-sector growth.
“Human capital is the engine of sustainable development. Our macroeconomic reforms are designed to improve lives, unlock economic potential, and ensure every Nigerian can participate in national growth,” he explained.
Ms. Saeed praised the government’s reform momentum and confirmed UNICEF’s commitment to aligning programmes with national priorities, including exploring innovative financing tools such as debt-for-development and debt-for-climate swaps.
She described Nigeria as a pivotal nation globally, and reaffirmed UNICEF’s readiness to support results that improve child welfare, expand social coverage, and accelerate development outcomes.
Our Correspondent quoted the Finance Ministry Spokesman, Mohammed Manga as saying that the meeting marks a renewed phase of partnership aimed at ensuring Nigeria’s economic reforms deliver measurable social impact and long-term competitiveness.
