Ini Adiakpan Tasks Humanitarian Actors to Move from Talk to Action, Strengthen Systems
By Genesis Ogiri
ABUJA — Dr. Ini Adiakpan, Delivery Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Women Projects, has called on humanitarian actors to move beyond discussions to practical action, strengthen institutional systems and empower vulnerable communities to tackle poverty and promote sustainable development across Nigeria and Africa.
Adiakpan made the call while delivering her keynote address at the two-day Humanitarian Leaders Boot Camp and Awards 2026, held at The Meeting Point Event Centre, Gudu, Abuja. The event brought together stakeholders and humanitarian actors to deliberate on capacity building, effective humanitarian interventions, leadership development and strategies for strengthening systems to improve service delivery.
She was also honoured with the title of Global Matron at the event. in recognition of her contributions to humanitarian service, women’s development and community empowerment. Her recognition highlighted the importance of effective leadership and commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable people.
She noted that humanitarian challenges in Nigeria and across Africa were closely associated with poverty, stressing the need for stakeholders to develop practical and sustainable interventions that directly address the needs of affected communities.
According to her, compassion alone is insufficient to address complex humanitarian challenges without the requisite knowledge, competence, discipline and capacity to respond appropriately to the needs of vulnerable populations.
She emphasised that capacity building must go beyond acquiring certificates and attending workshops to producing practical skills, measurable outcomes and improved service delivery.
The humanitarian advocate called for increased investment in continuous learning, mentorship and youth development, noting that equipping individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge was essential to strengthening humanitarian response mechanisms.
Adiakpan also stressed the importance of sound policy frameworks, transparent financial management and accountability in ensuring that resources allocated to humanitarian interventions were effectively utilised and reached their intended beneficiaries.
She further called for stronger partnerships among government institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations and local communities, maintaining that no single organisation could independently address the complex challenges confronting vulnerable populations.
According to her, humanitarian stakeholders must prioritise community empowerment, youth engagement and sustainable development to ensure that interventions deliver lasting benefits rather than temporary relief.
She urged participants to leave the meeting with a renewed commitment to translating discussions into concrete actions that would improve the welfare of vulnerable people and strengthen humanitarian systems.
Adiakpan maintained that the future of humanitarian interventions depended on the competence of practitioners, the strength of institutional structures and the collective commitment of stakeholders to ensuring that every intervention achieved its intended objectives.
Her emergence as Global Matron
at the Humanitarian Leaders Boot Camp and Awards 2026 further marked her recognition at the gathering, which focused on strengthening humanitarian leadership, capacity development and collaborative approaches to addressing the needs of vulnerable communities.
