“This bold and visionary step underscores Brazil’s leadership in addressing one of the most urgent and persistent challenges facing our world today”, President Bola Tinubu said while addressing leaders at the meeting.
With Buenos Aires’ decision, all G20 countries are now members.
The African Union, the European Union, nine financial institutions, 24 international organisations, and 31 philanthropic and non-governmental entities, totalling 148 are founding members.
President Tinubu said: “The creation of this Alliance marks a significant milestone in our global efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, and it also sends a powerful message of solidarity to vulnerable populations around the globe.
“By fostering collaboration between governments, international organisations, and civil society, this initiative offers a comprehensive approach, not only to addressing immediate needs, but also tackling the structural causes of hunger and poverty.”
President Tinubu compared the global initiative to one of the eight priority areas he outlined during his inauguration 18 months ago, expressing Nigeria’s eagerness to adopt the international best practices to advance its economic development.
He said Nigeria’s endorsement of the Global Alliance is a significant step in its efforts to address hunger and poverty by leveraging international cooperation and resources to bolster domestic strategies.
He added that by supporting the initiative, Nigeria had also demonstrated a solid commitment to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1, which focuses on eradicating poverty, and SDG 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger.
President Tinubu added: “These goals are at the core of Nigeria’s development agenda, and the Alliance offers a platform to accelerate progress towards them.
“By collaborating with international partners, Nigeria aims to leverage best practices, innovative solutions, and financial support to enhance its efforts to combat poverty and hunger.
“The endorsement reinforces Nigeria’s role as a key player in global efforts to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all its citizens.”
President Tinubu called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to ensure its continued relevance in global interventions.
He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness and capability to represent Africa within the global elite assembly.
The President urged the G20 to champion the noble ideal, having admitted the African Union (AU) as a group member.
President Tinubu said: “The Security Council should expand its permanent and non-permanent member categories to reflect the world’s diversity and plurality. Africa deserves priority in this 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.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said South Africa fully supported the Brazilian Presidency’s focus on social inclusion and the fight against hunger.
Speaking at the working session on social inclusion and the fight against higher and poverty, Ramaphosa said it was only through an integrated and comprehensive system of social support that the G20 will be able to assist the most vulnerable in society.
According to the World Bank, nearly 700 million people are currently living in extreme poverty and the Sub-Saharan Africa region accounts for 67 per cent of these people.
Ramaphosa said that at the same time, countries with developing economies were faced with declining growth prospects, declining investments and rising debt.
He said these challenges had the potential to derail development gains and progress made toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“We must, therefore, urgently redouble efforts to eliminate poverty and hunger. We must advance gender equality. And we must overcome the planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and pollution,” Ramaphosa said.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform of global governance institutions.
He said: “We face a global governance deficit and a global trust deficit. Poverty, inequalities, and the climate crisis are getting worse, and peace is getting further out of reach.
“We need global solutions rooted in the UN Charter. But our institutions are not keeping up. That was the reason for the Pact for the Future agreed in the UN Summit of the Future to strengthen multi-lateral ism and global governance.
“Starting with the Security Council, which is steadily losing its effectiveness and legitimacy. As wars grind on, innocent people are paying a terrible price, and the Security Council is unable to stop them. Security Council reform must be pursued with determination and not become a mirage.
“Everywhere around the world, peace requires actions grounded in the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, UN resolutions and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of States.”
The G20 leaders discussed a likely shifting global order, trying to shore up multilateral consensus before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to power in January.
Their discussions of trade, climate change and international security anticipated the sharp U.S. policy changes that Trump vows upon taking office, from tariffs to the promise of a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine.
END.
