By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Enugu State Government has pledged to partner with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESC) in alleviating poverty and facilitating targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the state.

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said this in an address during the UNESC South-East Inauguration/Awards Presentation in Enugu on Friday.

Ugwuanyi, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Dr Kingsley Udeh, said that since inception of his administration, it had taken bold steps to implement programmes that had direct bearing on the people.

``All these programmes in various sectors – education, economic empowerment, agriculture, healthcare and rural development – are all geared to rejuvenate the economic and financial resources of our people.

``Our government is SDGs complaint and we have created a special office to see that the 17 targets of the SDGs are meant and our people benefit immensely from it.

``As a government, we welcome UNESC to Enugu State and having your regional South-East office in Enugu.

``We are assuring you of close partnership. Enugu State will be working in synergy and partnership with UNESC to ensure its achieve its SDGs target in record for the benefit of our people,’’ he noted.

In a goodwill message, Wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs Gloria Diri, said that ``UNESC is a call to serve Nigerians and make their lives better by pulling millions out of poverty and lack’’.

Diri, however, encouraged members of UNESC to remain focused and partner with government at all levels especially at the grassroots to ensure that the SDGs are achieved and there is prosperity for Nigerians notwithstanding their remote locations.

The Full Chairman of UNESC Africa, Prof. Nathan Tor-Luga, appreciated Enugu State government for receiving the council with open hands and ensuring that all its state functionary work to achieve United Nations (UN) goals in the state.

``Enugu State and the entire South-East will benefit a lot from programmes of UNESC in agriculture and innovative/digital economy,’’ Tor-Luga said.

Speaking, Full Chairman of UNESC Nigeria, Dr Blessing Gozi-Anyaokei, noted that UNESC is one of the six principle organs of the UN, responsible for coordination of economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities carried out by UN’s largest and most complex subsidiary body.

``Our focus is to have a world united for common good by spreading peace and unity through different activities that will promote the SDGs making lives of the citizens of the world be in prosperity.

``We are also in the forefront of eradicating poverty, malnutrition, maltreatment and other negativity in the lives of the people of the world.

``Above all, an organisation that will be the partner of the UN in all its undertakings,’’ Gozi-Anyaokei said.

The South-East Coordinator of UNESC, Mrs Uche Elue, said that her office would focus more on empowerment for women and youths in rural areas.

Elue, who was newly inaugurated, said: ``We will be leveraging on agriculture, extractive industry, local arts and tourism to create jobs and wealthy for our people in the rural localities.

``Today, I have met with various government functionaries in Enugu and planning to meet others in South-East states; we will draw out a workable road map to marshal out programmes that will assist us achieve the SDGs’’.

Highlight of the event was an award given to Mr Richard Egwuma, Treasurer of Igboeze South Local Government Area, for his empowerment work in the council area all these years.

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