The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has been conferred with Africa’s Leading Woman in Humanitarian Service and Social Development Award.

The award and decoration was presented by Foreign Investment Network (FIN), an African Business Investment Forum, following a nomination by an INGO Third Sector Resource, based in United Kingdom, “in recognition of her outstanding services to the cause of Internally Displaced and Vulnerable Persons and her immense contribution to the growth of humanity”.

Presenting the award, the Chairman of FIN, Mrs Olayinka Fayomi eulogized the Minister for her sacrifices and humanitarian efforts in Nigeria.

“Hon. Sadiya Umar Farouq faces daily daunting challenges with grit and determination and continues to selflessly serve people in distress and ordinary citizens in Nigeria. People’s lives, especially the less privileged are being shaped to make for a better society through her laudable initiative and interventions.

“This High civil award seeks to recognize people who have made meritorious contributions to their country’s national interests and the investiture takes place on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.”

Receiving the award, Umar Farouq thanked the organizers for the recognition given to her.

“I am thankful for this award and grateful that you deemed me worthy of recognition for my contributions to humanitarian work in Nigeria.

“This spurs me to do more for Persons of Concern and the vulnerable in the society. My wish is that more hands will be on deck to assist the Federal Government of Nigeria in reducing abject poverty in Nigeria.

“I dedicate this award to my team and other stakeholders who have worked assiduously to strengthen resilience, improve humanitarian support and provide durable and long-lasting solutions for sustained, equitable and consistent development”.