By Abdulraheem Muhammed Olarewaju
A Non-Governmental Organization, the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), has called on Nigerians and the world to take action on the SDG to reach the proposed goals by 2030.
The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) organized a people assembly to commensurate the global week of action for the SDGs. In his welcome speech, the Executive Director, Olasupo Abideen, said, “in 2020 Covid 19 pandemic shock the world, we must prepare ourselves as people to prevent future occurrences’ ‘. Furthermore, “the goal of today’s people’s assembly is to discuss a way forward. We aim to find local solutions to these global problems”.
The invitees and speakers include Dr Tola Winjobi (National Coordinator Of Civil Society Coalition On Sustainable Development at the 2022 global week of action), Dr Hawau K. K. AbdulKareem, Mrs Taibat Hussain Aduragba, and Representative of the SSA to the Kwara State Governor on Non-Governmental Affairs, Mr Kehinde Akinola.
The keynote speaker, Dr Tola Winjobi, gave a rousing and thought-provoking speech to check the level of action taken by Nigeria and how the country is still suffering from not achieving these goals. In his presentation titled, ”The 2030 Agenda: The Journey So Far, The Way Forward and The Role Of CSOs In Achieving The SDGs In Nigeria”, he posited that for the implementation of the SDGs, we must first revisit the MDGs and review our implementation strategy.
He further noted that “Nigeria has not done much to achieve the SDG goals by 2030. Nigeria is likely to fail in achieving the goals by 2030 unless drastic steps are taken in days to come; poverty rate, unemployment rate, water and sanitation, and economic growth are some criteria to measure how much Nigeria is delivering the SDGs”.
In his concluding remarks, he said, “Civil Societies have to speak with a single voice and align toward achieving the goals, they should be educated on the goals towards 2030, the concept and analysis of the SDGs should be part of their agenda, development actors must rise to the challenges, conduct adequate research and follow it to the right channel. Stakeholders must be held accountable by the development actors, fulfil the promises of the SDGs, and emergency responsiveness must be a course.
The first speaker, Mrs Taibat Hussein, in her presentation titled “Localizing The SDGs Critical Entry Points’ ‘, gave a complete insight on how to localize SDGs and the level of action to be taken. Five critical dimensions, which are called the 5P’s; people, prosperity, planet, partnership, and peace, are necessary to bridge the gap between the SDGs goals and Nigeria.
She said, “for local action to be effective, it does not need to have a linear approach. Strategies to actualise the goals will look different to every actor in the sustainable development agenda”.
She also emphasized the role of gender in achieving localized, sustainable development goals and the universal call to action.
The second speaker, Dr Rasheed Ademola Adebiyi, in his presentation titled “The Role Of Data In Achieving The Sustainable Development Goals: A Clarion Call”, called for the accurate use of data for effectiveness in the measurement of progress. As a solution-oriented journalist, he opined that knowledge and adequate utilization of data have helped solve many critical issues.
He highlighted the central focus of his presentation: “data is the lifeblood of decision-making and the raw material for accountability; if applied responsibly, data can enable more agile, efficient, and evidence-based decision-making. Data can better measure progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a way that is both inclusive and fair”.
Rounding up his presentation, he shared Nigeria’s framework for achieving the SDGs, which included strategy documents, a monitoring and evaluation plan, and a policy framework.
In the final speaker’s presentation, Dr Hauwah K. K. AbdulKareem, taking a more feminine approach to the discussion in her presentation titled “Women’s Economic Empowerment As a Driving Force For The SDGs”, called for equal access to opportunities – education, employment, investment, Access to decent work, and equal participation in economic activities such as business, production, and agriculture.
“Women need to have increased voice, agency, and meaningful participation in economic decisions at all levels to propel”, she noted.
The event concluded with a determined audience ready to take action toward the 2030 goals of the SDGs.
