The African Union has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, to represent West Africa on the Governing Board of the African Humanitarian Agency.

The appointment, according to a statement issued by the minister’s Senior Technical Adviser on Information Systems and Data Analysis, Dr Abimbola Fasanu, is for a three-year non-renewable term.

Doro’s nomination was endorsed by the West African regional caucus, coordinated by Senegal in its capacity as Regional Dean, and formally communicated by the African Union Commission.

He will serve on the board alongside Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Léon Kacou Adom, who was also nominated to represent the region.

The African Humanitarian Agency was established by the African Union to strengthen the continent’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to humanitarian crises through coordinated, Africa-led solutions.

The governing board is expected to provide strategic direction for the agency’s development, regional coordination, policy implementation and humanitarian response efforts, including the establishment of Regional Humanitarian Centres.
The appointment comes amid growing concerns over humanitarian challenges across Africa, including displacement, poverty, food insecurity and climate-related emergencies.
Reacting to the development, Doro described the appointment as both a national honour and a responsibility to contribute to Africa’s humanitarian response system.

He stated, “This appointment is a recognition of Nigeria’s commitment to advancing innovative and coordinated humanitarian solutions. It provides an opportunity for us to contribute to shaping Africa’s humanitarian future through stronger partnerships, knowledge sharing, and systems that deliver lasting impact for vulnerable populations across our continent.”

He added that Nigeria would continue to support African-led solutions aimed at strengthening resilience, restoring dignity and creating sustainable pathways out of poverty.

He stated, “We remain committed to promoting African-led solutions that strengthen resilience, restore dignity, and create sustainable pathways out of poverty while sharing Nigeria’s experience in humanitarian reform.”

The ministry said the appointment also provides Nigeria with an opportunity to share its experience in humanitarian coordination, social protection and poverty reduction at the continental level.

It highlighted the implementation of the One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System as part of ongoing reforms aimed at integrating humanitarian assistance, social protection and poverty reduction interventions into a coordinated framework.

According to the ministry, the initiative is designed to reduce fragmented interventions and improve efficiency, accountability and long-term outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Doro is expected to participate in the inaugural briefing of the AfHA Governing Board later this month as the agency begins implementing its continental mandate.

The minister, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in November 2025, is a pharmacist, lawyer, business strategist and public policy professional with academic backgrounds in pharmacy, law, business administration and advanced clinical practice.