At the 19th G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, endorsed the creation of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative championed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to a press statement released on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu lauded the alliance as a pivotal step in addressing global challenges of hunger and poverty, emphasising its potential to foster international collaboration for meaningful change.
“This bold and visionary step underscores Brazil’s leadership in addressing one of the most urgent and persistent challenges facing our world today,” Tinubu remarked through a statement read by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
“The creation of this Alliance marks a significant milestone in our global efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, and it also sends a powerful message of solidarity to vulnerable populations around the globe.”
Tinubu compared the initiative to his administration’s efforts to tackle poverty and hunger, aligning it with Nigeria’s development agenda. He stated, “By collaborating with international partners, Nigeria aims to leverage best practices, innovative solutions, and financial support to enhance its efforts to combat poverty and hunger.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s endorsement of the alliance, Tinubu underscored its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). He noted that the initiative provides a platform to accelerate progress towards these goals while reinforcing Nigeria’s role in global development efforts.
Additionally, Tinubu called for urgent reforms to the United Nations Security Council, advocating for the inclusion of Africa in the council’s permanent and non-permanent member categories. “The Security Council should expand its permanent and non-permanent member categories to reflect the world’s diversity and plurality. Africa deserves priority in this process, and two permanent seats should be allocated to it with equal rights and responsibilities,” he stated, reiterating Nigeria’s readiness to serve as Africa’s representative.
Tinubu praised the G20’s recent decision to grant permanent membership to the African Union, describing it as a positive step toward inclusive multilateralism. However, he stressed the need for further reforms in global governance systems to address inequities that hinder development in the Global South.
“Multilateral institutions must be revamped to bridge the gap between the Global North and South,” Tinubu said, calling for changes in the global taxation system and financial architecture to benefit developing nations.
Nigeria, alongside other African nations, has championed a framework convention on global tax reforms, aimed at creating a fairer international tax system. Tinubu urged the G20 to prioritise these issues as part of its agenda for sustainable development and economic equity.
President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to active participation in the G20 and its support for achieving the SDG 2030 targets, highlighting the country’s resolve to contribute to a more equitable and inclusive global future.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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