By ABUBAKAR YUSUF

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has received accolades both for robust domesticated policies at sub national level, advocacy, capacity building that involved state actors to drive home the main objectives of the global goals.

The path on the back came from the United Nations and the United Nation Development Progrmame (UNDP), the global assessors who expressed satisfaction and seamless synergy, transition through exceptional implementation of SDGs to the targeted and vulnerable in Nigeria society.

The two global bodies were encouraged by the systematic collation of data base, planning, tracking, monitoring, evaluation, and re-alignment of national statistics in line with the present realities by the SDGs in Nigeria.

The creation of a reliable data bond for accurate statistics with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA's) that will pave way for policy formulation and implementation, adopted by the present leadership to drive the goals towards sustainable development, has relived the confidence of the global body towards its programs.

The innovative approach towards the historic 2020-2030 agenda is an indicator of a well thought out and robust institutional arrangements, towards consolidating the success already achieved in the last one decade at the inception of SDGs.

In the words of UN Deputy Secretary General, Ms Amina J. Mohammed, during her visit to the Senior Special Assistant on SDGs to the President, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, where she also served as former SSA to the President before the global assignment: “What the SSAP-SDGs has been able to do, is to build on foundations that have been laid – that’s unusual leadership. It recognizes that there was history and that there are things which have been done which Nigerians are benefitting from. What the SSAP has done is to take it to a different level.”

The UN DSG, who is also the Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, further showered encomiums on Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and her team “for their innovative approach to the 2030 Agenda, particularly the provision of pro-poor and pro-development programmes and initiatives as well as establishment of a robust institutional arrangement for the implementation of the goals across the country.”

The UNDP also expressed confidence in the ability of SDGs in Nigeria to tackle all developmental programs towards the realization of the historic adoption of the 2020-2030 agenda.

The commitment of the Federal Government towards the realization of the 'decade of action' will complement the one decade implementation of SDGs template in the country.

As partners in progress, UNDP/SDGs are irrevocably committed to the success of all activities that is encapsulated in the new agenda.

The strategic partnership with the global body spanned for five years now, is an impetus geared towards the implementation of programs and policies of SDGs in Nigeria.

With the UNDP support, commitment and due diligence, the transformative promise of 2020-2030 will go beyond mere dreams but achievable and attainable giving the timeline.

The clear cut policy formulation and implementation of the international agencies with credibility such as the UN and UNDP will galvanize more supports towards the intervention and resolution of the current social stratification prevalent in the developing countries, with Nigeria not an exception.

SDGs formulation and implementation of policies, progrmames as well as projects is strictly on data bond provided to ensure even spread of all amenities both to the rural and urban areas in Nigeria, with special attention to the vulnerable areas.

•PHOTO: UN Deputy Secretary General, Ms Amina J. Mohammed (R,) during her visit to the Senior Special Assistant on SDGs to the President, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire

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