Nigeria and Qatar Charity have formalised a new partnership to boost humanitarian interventions and development initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable communities across the country.

A statement from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning said the signing ceremony took place in Doha and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, represented the federal government, while the Chief Global Operations Officer of Qatar Charity, Mr Nawaf Abdullah Al-Hammadi, signed on behalf of the organisation.

The agreement sets out a framework for cooperation and establishes a legal foundation for Qatar Charity’s continued operations as an international organisation in Nigeria. 

It also guarantees essential facilities for the Charity’s office in the country, supporting the rollout of humanitarian and development projects across critical sectors.

Through this partnership, Qatar Charity will extend its support in areas such as health, education, information technology, water supply, institutional capacity building, and the empowerment of local social networks and charitable organisations. These activities will be carried out in coordination with Nigerian government agencies to ensure alignment with national development priorities.

Speaking after the signing, Senator Bagudu described the agreement as a reflection of Qatar Charity’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian development in Nigeria. He noted that over the years, the organisation has implemented projects that have positively impacted thousands of Nigerian families.

“We greatly value this leading and effective role, which has left a significant mark on the lives of thousands of Nigerian families,” Bagudu said. He expressed optimism that Qatar Charity would continue to expand both the scale and quality of its work in Nigeria, thereby contributing to a brighter future for local communities.

The minister also pointed out that the agreement signifies the close ties between Nigeria and Qatar, and opens new opportunities for collaboration to address shared humanitarian and development goals.

On his part, Mr Nawaf Abdullah Al-Hammadi stressed Qatar Charity’s dedication to supporting sustainable development and humanitarian initiatives in Nigeria. “In the coming years, we aim to implement impactful and high-quality projects that make a real difference in people’s lives,” he said.

The new agreement builds upon a previous three-year cooperation agreement signed in 2022, which concluded this year. It is designed to further strengthen the Charity’s operations and broaden the scope of its interventions across Nigeria.

Qatar Charity is recognised as one of the world’s largest humanitarian and development organisations. Its work spans life-saving assistance in conflict and disaster-affected areas, and long-term programmes targeting poverty reduction through social welfare, water and sanitation, education, nutrition, and economic empowerment.

The ministry noted that with this agreement in place, both Nigeria and Qatar Charity have signalled a shared commitment to deepen cooperation, tackle pressing humanitarian challenges, and promote sustainable development across Nigerian communities.