The establishment of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, led by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has been praised by President Bola Tinubu.
According to Tinubu, the partnership is essential to the global effort to combat poverty and hunger.
He said this during the opening session of the 19th G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday.
His spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, praised the initiative and said it was the appropriate move to tackle one of the biggest problems facing the planet.
“This audacious and forward-thinking move demonstrates Brazil’s leadership in tackling one of the most pressing and enduring issues confronting our planet today.
In addition to being a major step forward in our worldwide efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty, the formation of this Alliance sends a strong message of unity to vulnerable people everywhere.
According to him, “this initiative offers a comprehensive approach not only to addressing immediate needs but also tackling the structural causes of hunger and poverty by fostering collaboration between governments, international organizations, and civil society.”
President Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s desire to embrace foreign best practices in order to further its economic development by comparing this global initiative to one of the eight priority areas he listed upon his inauguration eighteen months ago.
Nigeria’s support of the pledge to join the Global Alliance, according to President Tinubu, is a major step in the country’s efforts to combat poverty and hunger by utilizing global resources and collaboration to support domestic initiatives.
He continued by saying that Nigeria’s support for the program shows a strong commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (zero hunger) and SDG 1, which focuses on ending poverty.
“The Alliance provides a platform to accelerate progress towards these goals, which are at the heart of Nigeria’s development agenda,” stated President Tinubu.
Nigeria hopes to strengthen its fight against poverty and hunger by working with foreign partners to take advantage of best practices, creative solutions, and financial assistance. According to President Tinubu, the endorsement reaffirms Nigeria’s position as a major actor in international initiatives to advance sustainable development and raise the standard of living for all of its residents.
In order to guarantee the UN Security Council’s continued importance in international initiatives, President Tinubu emphasized the urgent need for change.
Nigeria’s ability and willingness to represent Africa in this elite was reaffirmed by him.
After admitting the African Union as a group member, he urged the G20 to support this admirable goal.
Tinubu stated that in order to represent the diversity of the world, the Security Council should broaden the categories of permanent and non-permanent members.
“To properly represent the diversity and plurality of the world, the Security Council should broaden the categories of permanent and non-permanent members.
“Africa deserves priority in this process, and two permanent seats should be allocated to it with equal rights and responsibilities. Nigeria stands ready and willing to serve as a representative of Africa in this capacity.”
In the statement read on his behalf by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, President Tinubu noted that the G20 now wears a toga of a forward-looking international institution that upholds reform-minded multilateralism.
He especially commended the decision by the G20 to grant permanent membership to the African Union and for its consistency in sustaining the tradition of inviting guest countries to join the group.
This broad participation, he said, allows the opportunity for more inclusive and effective discussions to address shared global challenges.
“Some permanent members of the Council have shown promising signs of support for this process, which is a positive development. We welcome this shift in attitude and call for a faster pace to the long overdue change.
“The world faces various challenges, including extreme poverty, inequality, climate change, terrorism, and global conflicts.
“These issues are exacerbated by longstanding inequities in the global governance system, which have led to unsustainable sovereign debt and distortions in access to capital markets, trade imbalances, unfair representations and hindered development in the Global South.
“It is our responsibility to find pragmatic solutions to fix these imbalances.
“Particularly pressing is global taxation, which profoundly impacts developing countries.
“The current international tax system, largely shaped by the interests of more affluent nations, often leaves developing countries at a disadvantage, especially in taxing digital economies.
“This systemic imbalance has led to significant revenue losses, hampering our efforts towards sustainable development and economic self-reliance,” the Nigerian leader said.
President Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria, together with other members of the African Group, supported a historic UN move by advocating for a framework Convention on Tax in order to create a more inclusive and equitable international tax system.
He asked the G20 to pay attention to the request for reforming the international financial architecture made by nations, particularly those in the global south.
It is necessary to restructure multilateral institutions in order to close the divide between the Global North and South. The G20 needs to support this course for the future. Through our active involvement in the G20 and our unwavering support for reaching SDG 2030 targets, Nigeria is dedicated to being a part of that future,” the president continued.
