Tag: Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has challenged State Governments and other stakeholders to move beyond policy declarations and deliver measurable results.

The presidential adviser however warned that Nigeria’s ability to meet the 2030 SDG targets depends on urgent and coordinated subnational action.

Speaking at a one-day Roundtable Dialogue with State SDG Focal Persons in Abuja, Orelope-Adefulire said the remaining five years to the global deadline demand “greater coordination, innovation, and subnational ownership.” 

She stressed that state-level focal persons are key to translating national policy into grassroots change and urged states to integrate the SDGs fully into their budgets and development plans.

According to a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Desmond Utomwen,  Orelope-Adefulire said “our discussions must be honest, bold, and action-oriented. We must move from commitment to results. The SDGs are about real people, real communities, and real change”.

The presidential adviser warned that sustainable development cannot be achieved without sustainable financing, urging states to reduce dependence on external aid and mobilise domestic resources. 

She disclosed that 17 states have yet to domesticate or integrate the SDGs into governance frameworks, describing the gap as a “major obstacle” to national progress.

“This is a national agenda, not a state or federal government agenda. It requires all tiers of government working in unison if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said, adding that 20 states had already aligned their plans with SDG targets and indicators.

“When you spend 10 naira, we want to know what portion goes to No Poverty, Zero Hunger, education, healthcare, or job creation at the grassroots,” Orelope-Adefulire said, calling for increased transparency and a bottom-up approach to development.

The dialogue, which gathered SDG focal persons from across the country, also served as a platform to share best practices, strengthen data systems, and build partnerships. 

Edo State’s Director-General for SDGs, Julius Okunbor, described the session as “an eye-opener,” noting that the state’s SDG structures had been revived and were actively driving implementation despite limited donor funding.

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Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, highlighted the integration of SDG priorities across infrastructure, health, agriculture, and sanitation in his state. 

“We have strong ‘handshakes’ with municipal governments and local chieftains. Social mobilisation and grassroots engagement are critical to our success,” he said, adding that prudent financial management had enabled Abia to meet counterpart funding obligations without loans.

Closing the session, Orelope-Adefulire urged participants to make the meeting a turning point, saying “the SDGs are not abstract; they are about real people, real communities, and real change. Every state must play its part, and for those 17 states yet to domesticate, the time to act is now.”

As the 2030 deadline draws closer, she said, Nigeria’s sustainable development trajectory will hinge not only on federal policy but on decisive action in state capitals, local councils, and communities nationwide.

…highlights inclusive growth, institutional reforms

Nigeria has presented its Third Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the 2025 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, reaffirming its commitment to the 2030 Agenda and spotlighting key strides in institutional reform, inclusive development, and global partnership-building.

Leading Nigeria’s delegation to the global event in New York, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, emphasised the country’s determination to pursue the SDGs despite persistent domestic and global headwinds.

“Nigeria remains resolute in achieving the SDGs through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. We are committed to inclusive, accountable and data-driven implementation, even as we navigate economic and environmental challenges,” Orelope-Adefulire stated during the presentation.

A statement issued on Thursday by Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication to the SSAP-SDGs, Desmond Utomwen, this year’s review marks Nigeria’s third voluntary national report since 2017 and highlights growing institutional alignment and national integration of the SDGs.

Notable milestones include the integration of SDG targets into national statistics, the implementation of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF), and the rollout of the Inclusive Data Charter Action Plan.

Nigeria also conducted country-led evaluations of several priority SDGs.

The 2025 report focuses on five priority goals: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

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It draws from nationwide consultations conducted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and special engagements with youth, children, and persons with disabilities.

Anchored in the National Development Plan 2021–2025, as well as previous frameworks like the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and the Economic Sustainability Plan, the review illustrates Nigeria’s pursuit of inclusive and resilient growth.

According to the report, of the 52 SDG performance indicators tracked, 34.6 percent showed improvement, 30.8 percent remained stagnant, and 34.6 percent experienced regression.

The review identified fiscal constraints as a major impediment, with government revenue totalling just 9.6 percent of GDP in 2023.

However, modest gains were recorded in the tax-to-GDP ratio and diaspora remittances.

It also acknowledged the disruptive effects of global crises — including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical conflicts — which have exacerbated development challenges across the Global South.

These crises, the report noted, triggered economic shocks, widened inequalities, and stalled progress in key sectors.

Looking forward, Nigeria is prioritising key reforms to boost SDG implementation.

These include improving the quality and disaggregation of national data, scaling up the Inclusive Data Charter, and designing a transformative Medium-Term National Development Plan (2026–2030) that is inclusive, climate-resilient, and globally aligned.

The review concluded with a strong call for renewed global partnerships and innovation-driven collaboration to achieve the SDGs by the 2030 deadline.

Nigeria reiterated its commitment to multisectoral coordination and international cooperation as the world enters the final five-year stretch to meet the global goals.