The National President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, on Friday, called for stronger collaboration among humanitarian organisations, governments and communities in addressing humanitarian challenges across Nigeria.

The president noted that volunteers remained central to the organisation’s humanitarian activities.

Adeaga, disclosed this in Abuja, during the 2026 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day celebration organised by the Nigerian Red Cross Society under the theme, “United in Humanity.”

The event featured a roadshow walk from Bolien House/Sip & Style to the Nigerian Red Cross Society New Office Complex at Plot C150, 401 Road, 4th Avenue, Gwarimpa.

He stressed that the society would continue reaching vulnerable communities without expecting payment.

Speaking during the event, Adeaga said the celebration marked the birth of Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross Movement worldwide, and commemorated the establishment of organised humanitarian service globally.

Adeaga stressed that humanitarian work could not be done by a single organisation or individual, saying that, “Humanitarian services cannot be done alone by a single organisation or individual; it has to be collaborative.

“There are those that have specialties in some areas. There are those that have the funds, but do not have the specialties that the Nigerian Red Cross Society has. There are those that have both, but the resources are not sufficient enough to deliver.

“So there has to be collaboration. When you talk of humanitarian services, it is a large society spanning all spheres of life. Everybody can be vulnerable at any point in time. So we need all of us to be aware, conscious, and have one measure of ability or another to relieve suffering.”

According to him, some organisations can identify humanitarian challenges but lack the facilities needed to intervene.

Adeaga also defended the Red Cross’ neutral humanitarian principles, noting that the organisation prioritises assistance to vulnerable persons regardless of affiliations.

He added, “This service commemorates the official establishment of organised humanitarian service, considered the first recorded humanitarian service in the world. We continue to receive services provided by volunteers.

“We will carry out all the tasks of going out to the communities, volunteering without pay and ensuring that we bring hope to those in need wherever they may be.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, FCT Branch, Rhoda Samande, said the organisation had intensified grassroots humanitarian programmes across communities in the Federal Capital Territory.

She said: “We have a lot of programmes that we put in place and we reach out to the real grassroots. We go out there to train grassroots people on how to carry out first aid in their localities and how to disseminate the training we hold for them so that they can impact the lives of people around them.”

Samande explained that the branch also runs women-focused initiatives and sensitisation programmes against child abuse and violations involving youth and girls.

She disclosed that the organisation continued to support internally displaced persons in camps across the FCT through food distribution and other relief interventions.

In her remarks, the Head of Delegation, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Doris El Doueihy, said the celebration was dedicated to honouring Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers globally.

He noted that humanitarian needs were increasing globally despite shrinking funding support.

She said: “We are celebrating today all the volunteers of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement around the world, especially here in Nigeria with the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

“Humanitarian needs are huge today, more than ever. Humanitarian funds are shrinking around the world, so the humanitarian needs are huge everywhere, including in Nigeria.”

She added that the movement currently provides emergency response services, food and non-food assistance, water, shelter, psychosocial support, malnutrition interventions, and support for displaced persons affected by conflict and disasters across Nigeria.

She added, “Our response goes from emergency response, food, non-food items, water, shelters, all the way to psychosocial support and weapon-contamination awareness.”

Also speaking, the Head of Delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Nigeria, Dr. Awan Muhammad, said the Red Cross Movement currently responds to humanitarian emergencies across 33 states in Nigeria.

Muhammad added that the movement would continue to support humanitarian interventions in Nigeria.

He said: “We are responding to all natural and man-made disasters. From the northern states to all other states, 33 states, we are responding in displacement, health, shelter, WASH, food items, non-food items, food insecurity and livelihoods.

“We are speaking as a movement today. We commit that we will continue our support as we have been doing until now and beyond.”