Press Release:

UNFPA, KOICA signs Memorandum of Understanding on its humanitarian support to Borno State, Nigeria.

Abuja - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has signed a co-financing agreement with the KOICA (the Korean Republic International Cooperation Agency) to scale up support for its humanitarian assistance in Borno State from 2018 to 2020. This project will address in the critical needs of women and girls affected by the humanitarian crisis in North East Nigeria.

Today’s ceremony was conducted at the KOICA Office in Maitama Abuja. Before the signing, the UNFPA Representative in Nigeria, Dr Diene Keita, met with the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Lee IN TAE. Dr Diene Keita expressed UNFPA’s appreciations for honouring her in his office, and commended KOICA for supporting humanitarian assistance in North East, Nigeria. She acknowledged KOICA’s contribution in changing the lives of the Borno women and girls.

The key areas of intervention for this project are improving access to maternity care, prevention and treatment of childbirth complications including obstetric fistula, provision of comprehensive healthcare and rehabilitation to survivors of gender-based violence and supporting young people in the areas of innovations so that they can fulfil their potentials.

This project will tap into the best practises and achievements from Korea such as demographic dividend and technology. Dr Diene Keita informed the Ambassador that UNFPA will be holding a fistula fortnight campaign in Borno and will appreciate his presence.

She expressed ‘there is hope in Nigeria for the women and girls’.

H.E Ambassador Lee IN TAE Said he knows the conditions of women and girls in Bama, and added that he will avail himself of some of the project activities to visit some of the hard-to-reach locations in North East Nigeria. He expressed satisfaction with the working relationship between UNFPA and KOICA and thanked the UNFPA Representative. Right after the courtesy visit was the signing of the co-financing agreement by the UNFPA Representative and the KOICA Country Director, Park Sook, in the presence of staff from both sides.