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Tag: SDGs

  • Nigeria engages South-South region in SDGs progress review

    Nigeria engages South-South region in SDGs progress review

    The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) has convened a regional consultation in Uyo as part of Nigeria’s preparations for its third Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the SDGs.

    The consultation brought together key stakeholders—including government officials, civil society organizations, academics, private sector representatives, and marginalized groups—to assess progress, identify challenges, and strengthen grassroots participation. 

    According to a statement issued on Friday by Desmond Utomwen, the Special Assistant on Media to the SSAP-SDGs, insights from the discussions will feed into Nigeria’s VNR, set for presentation at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2025.

    Speaking through her Senior Technical Adviser, Bala Yunusa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, underscored the importance of inclusivity in the review process.

    “The VNRs are most useful when conducted through an inclusive, participatory process. This is why we are here—to consult widely with key stakeholders across all segments of society. 

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    “This is our ‘whole-of-government and whole-of-society’ approach to SDG implementation in Nigeria,” she stated.

    Princess Orelope-Adefulire also highlighted Nigeria’s previous VNRs in 2017 and 2020, stressing that the 2025 review comes at a pivotal moment following the adoption of the ‘Pact for the Future’ at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2024.

    Representing Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Nsikak Linus Nkan, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustainable development, citing progress in healthcare, gender equality, economic growth, marine conservation, and development partnerships.

    “Akwa Ibom has made remarkable strides in key SDG areas. Our achievements reflect the dedication of government, civil society, and all stakeholders involved. However, we recognize that much work remains to be done,” Dr. Nkan said.

    In her goodwill message, Mrs. Ime David of the Akwa Ibom State SDGs Focal Office commended the initiative and encouraged stakeholders to use the forum to drive regional development.

    “This summit provides an invaluable platform to share best practices and forge partnerships. Together, we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous world,” she noted.

    The South-South consultation is part of a nationwide engagement effort, with similar sessions planned in Enugu (South-East), Gombe (North-East), Kaduna (North-West), and Abuja (North-Central). 

    The process will culminate in a National Validation in Abuja, ensuring Nigeria’s 2025 VNR meets global standards.

  • Localizing the SDGs: A Pathway to Sustainable Communities

    Localizing the SDGs: A Pathway to Sustainable Communities

    I recently attended the just concluded UNGA 79 which was held in New York, where I had the privilege of participating in several side events focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A highlight was engaging in roundtable discussions with inspiring individuals cut across various countries around the world, where we explored the socio-economic challenges related to the SDGs and what is working, and what isn’t in different countries.

    What can we learn from others?

    From our discussions, several successful strategies emerged:

    Malaysia has excelled in localizing SDGs through community engagement, particularly in poverty alleviation programs that involve grassroots participation. How can Nigeria harness similar community-driven strategies to tackle our own poverty issues?

    India has made strides with its Digital India initiative, leveraging technology to improve access to education and healthcare in rural areas. The government also promotes entrepreneurship through programs like Start-Up India, empowering youth and women. What tech-driven initiatives can we introduce in Nigeria to uplift our education system and spark entrepreneurial spirit?

    China has successfully lifted millions out of poverty through targeted economic reforms and rural development initiatives, focusing on sustainable infrastructure to achieve multiple SDGs. How can Nigeria implement economic reforms that ignite rural development and sustainability?

    Sri Lanka has implemented effective agricultural policies that encourage organic farming and cooperative models, fostering sustainability and community resilience. How can we ignite cooperative farming in Nigeria to secure food and boost our local economies?

    I had the opportunity to share my idea of One Village One Set of Produce (OVOSEP), for Nigeria, I highlighted the potential impact of such initiatives on socio-economic development. By encouraging communities to focus on a single crop, which they as a community have advantages based on certain variables such as soil , climatic conditions and expertise in cultivating that particular crop over others, this in turn will help in boosting their competitive advantage, which will help in creating reliable income sources, attract partnerships, and foster trade relationships between communities.

    In contrast, countries like the USA and UK have robust frameworks for monitoring and reporting on SDG progress, enhancing accountability. Public-private partnerships in both nations have proven effective in implementing various SDGs, particularly in education and health.

    Let’s Talk Agriculture

    What if we made OVOSEP a reality? Picture a village renowned for one crop. Companies would regularly come to purchase it, guaranteeing steady income. This initiative will not only enhance local economies but also encourages community cohesion and resilience. Let’s make this happen!

    Taking Climate Action with Agroforestry

    We need a simple but powerful solution: dedicating one day a month to planting trees in our communities. Not only do trees help protect our environment, but they also improve soil health, reduce flooding, and boost agriculture. It’s an initiative that will pay off for generations to come.

    Empowerment Through Skill Acquisition

    I challenge our political leaders to be more strategic with empowerment programs. Instead of just handing out equipment, let’s focus on skill acquisition first. People need to master a trade before receiving the tools. And empowerment programs must be researched, needs base assessments and training should carried out diligently before empowerment.

    This is important because needs differ from community to community, What one community needs might be different from another, so it’s important to ensure we’re giving the right support. Also Continuity is key. Local governments should track progress through a database to ensure real impact.

    Managing Disasters and Flooding

    Flooding is a real challenge in many communities, but we can tackle this in simple ways. First, regular community clean-ups to clear drainage systems can go a long way. Second, planting trees helps reduce soil erosion and manage water flow. Local leaders, both religious  and traditional leaders (Baales, and district heads ) can engage their followers/subject or even establish laws in their communities to ensure these actions happen monthly. We already have environmental sanitation in Kwara State, but it’s time we focus on the rural areas too.

    Prioritizing Education and Youth Involvement

    During my campaign tours, I visited several villages and witnessed the alarming neglect of basic education. We must adopt serious strategies to ensure both girls and boys are getting into schools. One approach could be school feeding programs, which have proven effective in increasing enrollment. Through this program we can create a system where free meals are provided in schools, helping to attract children to learn.

    Local businesses can also play a crucial role by adopting community schools through their various CSRs ( Corporate social responsibility) supporting them with school supplies like bags and uniforms. Not everything should fall on the governments shoulders. Local and state governments should create policies that encourage small and medium enterprises to support education. While charter schools in America may not be fully sustainable in Nigeria, we can start with smaller initiatives that engage the community.

    When it comes to youth involvement in governance, it can extend to community engagement activities. Youth party executives and members should conduct quarterly community development projects. Instead of waiting for election cycles/ campaign season, they can come together to plant trees, clean drainage systems, and engage in other leadership initiatives. This active participation not only promotes good governance but also aligns with the SDGs by fostering a sense of responsibility and community spirit among the youth.

    A Call for Localized Action

    I’m excited to work with communities in Oyun Local Government and Kwara State to implement these ideas. Whether it’s OVOSEP, agroforestry, skill acquisition, or education, every step counts. When local communities come together and are given the needed support they will take charge of their challenges, and thier by pave the way for sustainable development that works for everyone.

    Opeyemi Abdulhafiz Alao, CISA, CRISC, CISM Chairman, Abral Development Initiatives. President, Nigerian Youth in the Diaspora Engagement Forum (NYDEF). One of Global 100 Most Influential People of African Descent

  • Sub-national govts key to achieving SDGs, says NESG

    Sub-national govts key to achieving SDGs, says NESG

    With just six years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) has emphasised the increasingly crucial role of sub-national governments in driving inclusive development.

    This, it said, will be the central theme of Plenary VII, titled “Race to 2030: Catalysing Sub-National Action towards Meeting the SDGs”, during the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #30) set for October 14-16, 2024, in Abuja.

    In a statement by NESG’s Acting Strategic Communication and Advocacy, Ayanyinka Anyanlowo, highlighted the importance of the SDGs, which focus on addressing global challenges like poverty, inequality, education, health, and climate change.

    According to the statement, achieving these goals requires strong contributions from both national and sub-national governments.

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    The statement reads in part: “with just six years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the role of sub-national governments in driving inclusive development has become more critical than ever.

    “The SDGs were designed to deliver inclusive development across the globe, addressing issues like poverty, inequality, education, health, and climate change.

    While national governments play a significant role in guiding the overall strategy to meet these goals, sub-national governments, including state and local authorities, are closer to the people and possess a deeper understanding of the specific challenges faced by communities.

  • Fed govt tasks states on accelerating SDGs

    Fed govt tasks states on accelerating SDGs

    Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has urged state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to intensify their efforts towards achieving the SDGs.

    This appeal comes as the global community aims to fast-track the implementation of the Global Agenda during the Decade of Action for the Goals.

    Princess Orelope-Adefulire emphasized this during the ongoing Advocacy and Sensitisation campaign in Kano and Ondo States.

    According to a statement by Desmond Utomwen, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the SSAP-SDGs, despite Nigeria’s commitment and efforts, significant challenges remain, making it crucial for all stakeholders, especially State Governments, to accelerate progress.

    She highlighted that with the global community falling behind in achieving the SDGs and Nigeria facing various obstacles, the urgency for increased action and dedication has become more critical than ever.

    She noted that, partly due to the now Triple C Crisis – COVID, Climate Change, and Conflicts, the implementation is off-track globally, and only 15 percent of the SDGs targets are on track as of 2023.

    “In Nigeria, the Multidimensional Poverty Index Report (2022) shows that about 63 percent or 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor. The report shows that poverty levels vary significantly across the states and the geopolitical zones.

    “Specifically, multidimensional poverty is higher in rural areas, where 72 percent of people are poor, compared to 42 percent in urban areas. Overall, the report revealed that 65 percent of poor people live in the North, while 35 percent live in the South.

    “Relatedly, the National Bureau of Statistics’ Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Report (2022) shows that the Under-5 mortality rate, which represents SDG 3.2.1, is 102 per 1,000 live births – with Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Jigawa recording the highest, and FCT, Benue, Kwara, and Ebonyi States recording the lowest.

    “On SDG 4, quality education among children and adolescents aged 7-14 years, only about 27 percent have foundational reading skills, and 25 percent have foundational numeracy skills.

    “This translates to a low out-of-school rate found in Ekiti State at (2%) and Imo (1%), while the highest rates are found in Kebbi (65%) and Zamfara and Bauchi States both at 61%.”

    The SSAP-SDGs noted that the Federal Government has demonstrated strong commitment towards the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria and requires the sub-national governments to match these efforts, particularly as the tier of government closest to the people.

    She noted that institutional frameworks have been established at the national and sub-national levels to guarantee effective implementation of the SDGs.

    “The SDGs require a whole-of-society approach and clearly cannot be achieved with stand-alone policies and projects. They must be carefully integrated into national and sub-national policies and development plans.

    “As we approach the 2030 deadline, we must recommit to accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, especially at the state level.

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    “As part of the transformative actions needed to deliver on the SDGs, we need the expertise and resources of the public and private sectors, the UN Development System, development partners and the donor community, academia, civil society, and concerned citizens in support of the SDGs,” Orelope-Adefulire stated.

    In his remarks, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, maintained that the SDGs are a blueprint for a better future for all in addressing global challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation.

    Aiyedatiwa said: “Ondo State is uniquely naturally endowed and positioned to achieve these goals of the SDGs. The State is blessed with abundant natural resources, a vibrant population, and a rich cultural heritage.”

    He expressed his commitment and optimism that through continued partnerships with the Federal Government and other stakeholders, Nigeria can deliver on the SDGs.

    “I am confident that through seamless collaboration and innovation, we can make significant progress towards achieving the SDGs at the sub-national level.

    “On our part, the Ondo State Government is committed to playing its part in achieving the SDGs.

    “We recognize the importance of these goals and are actively working to integrate them into our policies.

    “Together, let us build a future that is sustainable, equitable, and prosperous for all,” the Governor said.

    In the same vein, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Shehu Shegagi, maintained that the state is committed to delivering on the Targets of the SDGs while leaving no one behind.

  • UNDP, Sahara Group promote sustainable energy, SDGs

    Sahara Group and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are collaborating to promote reliable access to affordable and sustainable energy, and mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the private sector with a specific focus on SDG 7 (affordable energy).

    The partnership, according to Sahara Group’s spokesman, Bethel Obioma, was formalised in New York during the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by UNDP’s Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa and the Sahara Group Executive Director Mr. Temitope Shonubi. In attendance were UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative  Ambassador Tijani Muhammad-Bandé.

    “650 million people in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity.  UNDP looks forward to partnering with Sahara Group to ensure that everyone in this region has access to affordable energy, a critical part of our work supporting countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

    “At Sahara Group, we believe that access to energy is critical to accelerating sustainable development, especially in developing economies. As a leading energy provider in Africa, we are passionate about the partnership with the UNDP and are confident that it would inspire more interventions and ultimately facilitate access to reliable, clean and affordable energy for all Africans,” Shonubi explained.

    Africa’s energy demands are poised to rise with rapid urbanisation and economic growth.  The 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 7, call for universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services, including clean fuels and technologies.

    As regards the agreement, UNDP and the Sahara Group will work to identify best avenues to build on their respective network and experience to create power solutions that will help drive sustainable development and provide support for SDG nationwide monitoring and reporting.

    The Sahara Group was appointed as one of the two African companies on the Private Sector Advisory Group set up by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals fund (UN-SDGF) in 2016. It has since played a significant role in driving that mandate by creating the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG), inaugurated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It comprises over thirty leading businesses and corporate foundations in Nigeria.

  • Journalist to screen film on SDGs

    Investigative journalist Tobore Ovuorie is set to screen her film titled ‘Why?’, part of documentary series which focus on stigmatisation of people living with HIV.

    The screening which is free to attend holds by 4pm on Thursday, April 18 at Civic Hive, Yaba, Lagos.

    The film is a fall-out of Ovuorie’s 2018 investigative series on HIV in children of school age in Nigeria. The series were published in August last year in The Nation newspaper.

    Her investigations revealed discrimination against children living with HIV, with some of them being denied access to education.

    “This is against their fundamental human rights and SDG three and four respectively which seeks access to quality health and education for all, respectively,” said Ovuorie.

    The films were independently funded by Ovuorie.

  • African countries need additional $638b yearly to finance SDGs

    African countries will require an additional $638 billion yearly to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goals have 11 more years to go.

    Meanwhile, some countries are falling into debt distress.

    World leaders in 2015 adopted the 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Goals, which came into force on January 1, 2016. The new Goals apply universally to countries and they are expected to mobilise to work towards ending all forms of poverty, end inequalities, tackle climate change, provide good health services, education for all, zero hunger and provide clean water and sanitation for all among others. It is also aimed at not leaving anyone behind.

    But the need for African countries together to raise the estimated amount to fulfill the Goals, highlights the glaring gap that cannot be filled with the trends in public revenues, savings and investment, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe,  said at the opening of the experts meeting at the 52nd session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, being held in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco from March 20 to 26.

    According to Songwe, the potential of Africa is, and has always been, promising. “With a growing working-age population; abundant arable land and a multitude of other resources, the continent has all the pre-requisites for rapid economic transformation in the next decade,” she said.

    She, however, pointed out that ensuring the availability of adequate public resources and quality investments to drive structural change requires responsive policies that promote fiscal sustainability, optimise returns from economic activity, and enable economies to fully participate in an increasingly interconnected and globalised world.

    ”Rising global demand, increased commodity prices, investment and private consumption have moderately driven the rebound from the poor growth results of about 2.5 per cent in 2016 to the current rate of 3.2 per cent.

    However, the medium-term outlook of between three and four per cent for Africa is insufficient to stimulate quality investments that will generate jobs and accelerate inclusive growth. To do so, Africa needs to triple its current growth rate, meaning investment must increase by between five to 10 per cent of GDP in order to achieve the SDGs,” she said.

    She added: “This is more poignant, especially given rising populations, an increasing culture of protectionism in global trade markets; and the sluggish growth of manufacturing – a key sector in the transformation process.

    “Also, as you are aware, it has been estimated that financing the SDGs will require an additional $638 billion annually, highlighting the glaring gap that cannot be filled with the current trends in public revenues, savings and investment.”

    Songwe noted that as a result, African countries are already observing the financial pressure on governments as they seek to close this gap through external financing.

    “The number of countries at high risk of debt distress – 18 in all – has more than doubled since 2013, while eight countries are already in distress.

    “If this pace continues there is a high risk of eroding the substantial progress made in reversing the high trend of indebtedness in African countries experienced at the beginning of this century,” she warned.

    She also said, between 2000 and last year, Africa had the lowest average ratio of government revenue to GDP of any region in the world at 24.5 per cent, compared to Latin America, for example, at 27.8 per cent., adding that, this is not due to lack of effort as over the last two decades, the number of African countries, which have tax-to-GDP ratios under 15 per cent fell by half–a significant achievement.

    “Despite widespread tax reforms in Africa, results have been mixed largely due to structural factors such as informality, low per capita income and very small initial base of manufacturing and modern services.

    By addressing capacity tax constraints, Africa could boost tax revenues by three per cent of GDP. In addition, by better aligning tax rates and revenue with business cycles, African countries can boost government revenue as a share of GDP by five per cent,” she said.

    She noted further that, with just over a decade remaining to achieve the goals set out in Agenda 2030, it is imperative that the scope and mechanisms of domestic resource mobilisation be revolutionised to bridge the financing gap, promote macro-economic stability and limit costly external borrowing.

  • Toyin Saraki cautions world leaders on SDGs

    Toyin Ojora Saraki has sounded a warning bell as the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York.
    Saraki cautioned that unless significant progress is made, the Sustainable Development Goals will not be met by the global community.
    “Only two countries in Africa – Rwanda and South Africa – have met the Abuja declaration to pledge 15% of their government budgets to health. Meanwhile, tuberculosis kills more than 4,000 people every single day, non-communicable diseases kill over 41 million people every year, and 80% of deaths in childbirth could be avoided with techniques that should be available across the globe. There has also been a distinct lack of progress in delivering upon the World Health Assembly 2017 Sepsis Resolution and improving water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities, schools and communities.”
    Mrs Saraki said that she will be advocating for five key interventions which must be urgently made at UN meeting this week.
    “Investment in family, community and primary healthcare – along with hospitals where needed – to bolster healthcare wherever people need it; in rural areas and urban, cities and villages. The murder of young midwife and mother Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa in Nigeria last week must spur Governments and global institutions on to strengthen security provisions for frontline health workers. Their training and pay conditions must also be improved. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care programme, operated with its global partners Johnson & Johnson and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, can serve as the benchmark for health worker training. We have shown that qualified midwives can and do lead the way with quality care.  Civil registration and vital statistics systems must be implemented and strengthened to allow Governments to prepare for epidemics and allocate investment where it is needed the most. 1.8 billion people, according to the World Bank’s latest statistics, have no Government identification. Their health needs are consequently highly likely to not be met and they will be especially vulnerable during disease outbreaks,” she said.
    She added that “government investment in strengthening health insurance systems is paramount – in Nigeria and around the world, too many people are pushed into poverty by health emergencies that they or their families experience. Non-communicable diseases kill over 41 million people every year. The Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros, has rightly highlighted the NCD crisis and it must be a core focus of all Government programmes. Whilst progress has been made in many areas, I feel compelled to speak out as too many women, children and communities are being left behind. We have the opportunity to change the course of history, but it is a chance that is slipping away. Urgency is the order of the day.”
    During the UN General Assembly, Mrs Saraki is also scheduled to meet with fellow African philanthropists and global partners, and to deliver high-level United Nations advocacy speeches on child health and malaria, frontline health workers and the steps required to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
    Toyin Saraki is Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives, Special Adviser to the World Health Organization regional office for Africa and Wife of the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • African leaders and SDGs

    Coming shortly after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was wound down, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is one among the cocktail of measures by the global community towards making the world a better place.  I am a strong advocate in Nigeria and Africa for exploring the synergy between SDGs and good governance and leveraging the goals to work for our people and our humanity at large.

    Most of us are still saddened that we never fully explored the utility of MDGs as key development tools for the 15 years they lasted. I remain mindful of missed opportunities and lessons learned, more so as a former state governor who appreciated fully how sub-national governments could benefit from and be instrumental to the implementation of MDGs in the interest of humanity. One of the lessons was that as much as we tried as individual leaders to attain the MDGs, such measures fell far short of the full effects of collective action.

    It seems difficult to address SDGs without first grasping the harmful effects of not giving unfettered support to meeting the MDGs targets.  If the MDGs did not fly fully, will the consequent SDGs fly – since the SDG programme is a follow-on to the MDGs? I recall the then UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon’s frank observation that ”The Millennium Development Goals were a pledge to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity, and free the world from extreme poverty… The MDGs measured what mattered to people. As we look ahead, we must do more to reach those who are most vulnerable, are not counted and have not shared the improvements of the past 15 years”. Unquestionably, there was a void, but it must be admitted that where faithfully pursued, MDGs added value not just to good governance, but to overall development and quality of life, as exemplified in China.

    China’s successful integration of MDGs into its national development planning, with effective and coordinated implementation from national to local governments, helped the country to achieve an unprecedented transformative result, using the three most critical goals: lifted 439 million people out of poverty; achieved universal basic education ahead of schedule; and made tremendous improvements in health care for women and children, and disease prevention and control.

    In contrast, within this period in Africa, there was drastic under-performance in the three critical goals: Poverty rose from 290 million to 414 million persons; Less than 70% was achieved in universal basic education; the number of under-nourished children rose from 27 million to 32 million.

    An example of what could have been done to achieve better results could be drawn from our efforts in my state, Anambra, where we domesticated the MDGs via a home-grown mechanism tagged ”Anambra Integrated Development Strategy” (ANIDS). This approach enabled us to simultaneously engage constructively in seamless planning, budgeting, and implementation of all the MDGs. These enabled us to achieve remarkably visible results across the MDGs, especially in first three critical goals.

    We became the first state in Nigeria to conduct mapping to establish the statistics of poverty. A major finding from the study was that poverty was fuelled by inadequate access to rural communities, which made us construct rural roads across the state to open up those areas to development opportunities and grant rural farmers access to urban markets for increased earnings from their produce. As affirmed by the then Minister of Works and the Senate Committee on Works, Anambra State during our administration had the best road network, particularly rural roads, in the country.

    Poverty alleviation also received a boost from the reconstruction and rehabilitation of our Industrial Estate in Onitsha; attracting investments from such Fortune 500 companies like the then SABmiller. We further accelerated the pace of industrialization as first state in Nigeria to partner with the Bank of Industry to obtain low-interest loans for MSMEs domiciled in the state.

    Our decision to return schools to their original missionary proprietors gave rise to a novel and unprecedented Government-Church partnership. The state consistently earned the first position in most national examinations, with the added value of raising productivity in different walks of life. So unique were ANIDS and its dividends that the World Bank commissioned a study of our achievements by a team led by renowned Oxford University’s Professor Collier, for possible adoption by other governments. The World Bank supports Anambra State because of that revolutionary approach.

    In health, again with novel partnership with the missionaries, we were able resuscitate 10 Schools of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Technology. Existing hospitals were rehabilitated and revamped through huge investments in facilities and staffing. We also established 10 primary and maternal health hospitals in rural communities across the state from the money we won from Melinda and Gates Foundation by being the best state in the eradication of polio; and at the tertiary level, a teaching hospital. With these efforts, Anambra State achieved reduction in infant mortality ahead of the MDGs deadline of 2015.

    It has been argued that the framework of the SDGs and Agenda 2030 (with 17 goals, 169 targets and 230 indicators) is too broad to make any meaningful impacts possible. But the reality is that the SDG framework is only as broad as the prevailing global challenges and unmet development needs. If we desire truly to attempt to end poverty and ensure that people’s human dignity and human rights are respected, we should be less concerned about the multiplicity of goals, targets and indicators. Rather, we should get to work – moving from agenda to action.

    I share the views of Helen Clark, the then UNDP Administrator, who recognized in 2015 that world leaders had the unique and unprecedented opportunity ”to shift the world onto a path of inclusive, sustainable and resilient development”. If  the SDGs programme is a continuum and should kick off where the MDGs ended, then the African continent needs to acknowledge that it failed in the three most critical MDGs and that such poor results must not be repeated with the SDGs.

    It is instructive that the MDGs success was offset by prevailing challenges and many areas of unmet needs, which characterized the results and progress as at best halting and mixed. Lingering problem areas likely to affect the SDGs include lack of political will, poor co-coordination, bureaucratic bottle-necks, poor resource management, erratic industrial actions, poor or total lack of true and validated baseline data, poor budgeting and accountability, and non-coordination between federal, state and local government agencies.

    Drawing from our experience in the poor implementation of the MDGs in Africa, making the SGDs work requires complete domestication of SDGs into the development planning of each country, and tailoring their effective and coordinated implementation modalities to the peculiarities of each nation and their sub-national and local geo-political entities.

    Effective funding is of critical importance. Africa cannot be parsimonious in funding the SDGs and expect the programme to achieve its set goals. Africa must match their funding efforts with broad support for the development of human capital and eschew negative trends like nepotism and corruption that chase capital and investments away. Nepotism is worse than corruption because it kills hard work and professionalism as people’s hard work would not match their opportunities.

    Africa must premise their action on the understanding that the most critical drivers of the SDGs are human beings – the beneficiaries and the implementers. Besides the human component, the continent must strive for adequate, reliable data collection, processing and utilization; effective evaluation and  monitoring at every stage of progress; transparent and inclusive budgeting; accountability; applying lessons learned and grasping missed opportunities; and strong political will.

    Finally, Africa owes it to our humanity to rally to a consensus that the SDGs must not flounder like the MDGs on account of collective inaction. The time to act is now, and this Global Festival of Action for SDGs represents a clarion “Call to Action”. Africa must overcome their lethargy, and must seize the moment.

     

    • Excerpts from remarks by Peter Obi, Former Governor of Anambra State at the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development Goals, At the World Conference Centre, Bonn, Germany,   March 21-23.
  • UN: Africa to witness economic pickup in 2018

    UN: Africa to witness economic pickup in 2018

    Africa’s economy is expected to grow 3.5 per cent in 2018, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from 2017, a UN official said Thursday.

    Speaking at 30th AU Summit being held in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, Vera Songwe, Secretary-General of the UN Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA ), said the growth uptick will be underpinned by strengthened external demand and moderate increase in commodity prices.

    She said the growth will also be supported by more favorable domestic conditions including restoration of oil production in a number of countries and expected recovery in 2018 and 2019 of major economies like Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

    However, she said the growth would not be enough for the continent’s rising population of more than one billion, 70 per cent of whom are categorized in the youth group.

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    Songwe said: “adjusting for population growth, the projected economic growth remains inadequate for Africa to make significant progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), the eradication of poverty and hunger.

    “Although poverty level is reducing, it is still intolerably high at an average of 40 percent for the continent. As Such, there’s need to upscale efforts at structural reforms, prudent economic management and promoting regional integration.”

    Nevertheless, UNECA projects the uptick in economic growth to continue for some time with 3.7 percent economic growth expected in 2019.

    SDGs are a universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies until 2030.

    NAN