THE Federal Government and the Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA) have introduce a new initiative, the National Poverty Intelligence Lab and the One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS) to overhaul Nigeria’s social investment architecture and effectively pull over 140 million citizens out of poverty.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, disclosed this at a three day workshop marking the official kickoff of the project and the commencement of the data assistance diagnostic exercise, yesterday in Abuja.

Doro lamented that for several years, national interventions have been driven by assumptions, politics and fragmented structures rather than evidence.

The minister said that the new lab would serve as the analytical engine to drive faster, smarter, and evidence guided leadership.

He said “We are moving from palliatives to pathways, from fragmented projects to integrated systems, from measuring spending to measuring outcomes, and from dependency to dignity.

“Every household we reach through OHOPRS is a household we intend to graduate from vulnerability, not just today, but permanently. We are done with duplication and fragmentation.”
Country Director of IPA, Funmi Ayeni, described the new initiative as a critical framework to address Nigeria’s fragmented social intervention history.
She said “There are so many conversations that we could have to think about how to get people out of poverty.

“How can we build systems that result in lasting impacts, not just things that come and go but things that are built on evidence.”

She emphasized that the focus on data backed education and strategic intervention remains the most viable ladder for inclusive economic mobility.
Unveiling the structural blueprint, Professor Christopher Chinedu-Njie explained that the One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS) serves as the “brain” to coordinate humanitarian response, social protection, and poverty reduction, noting that Nigeria’s projected poverty crisis affects nearly 30 million households.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, pointed that addressing the country’s pressing economic challenges requires timely and actionable data to monitor outcomes and ensure no vulnerable population is left behind.

Represented by Valentine Izulu, a Director in the ministry, he said “The diagnostic exercise will help us identify strengths, gaps, opportunities, and areas requiring investment and reform.

“The success of this initiative will depend on our collective commitment to partnership, innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.”