The Lagos State Government has hosted its first Voluntary Local Review (VLR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a view to test the progress of implementation efforts towards the 2030 UN targets.
Dr. OreOluwa Finnih, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on SDGs, at the VLR validation workshop on Tuesday, said the workshop marks a pivotal moment “in our collective journey toward achieving the Global Goals as well as co-creating an inclusive, just, and prosperous future for all residents of Lagos State.”
“The Voluntary Local Review as a sub-national endeavour has demonstrated local capacity and commitments of cities and regions to foster SDGs in rural communities. Thus, the state recognizes that the VLRs is not an end in itself but a process by which we assess our progress and shortcomings in implementing the SDGs through an inclusive process that involves all relevant actors,” she added.
She mentioned that the impact of the Voluntary Local Review Validation Programme is already being felt in cities and local governments around the world and has become a catalyst for change, inspiring innovative solutions and driving transformative action.
“While subnational reviews of 2030 Agenda have intrinsic value as part of the implementation process, they can also contribute to the national level Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and reinforce vertical coherence. It emphasizes the importance of embedding the process and its findings into existing implementation efforts and planning for effective follow-up,” she said.
She noted that since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, Lagos has “ambitiously moved to pursue this transformative global agenda with every vigor it deserves.”
She added that the State has actively promoted localization of the SDGs by being the first State in Nigeria to establish the Office of SDGs as a Cabinet Office and incorporating the framework into the State’s development plans.
“The establishment of civic engagement initiatives and platforms such as the Lagos State Volunteer Corp and the Lagos SDGs Youth Alliance has enabled citizens to become an active participant in governance.
“We have equally institutionalized SDGs in learning institutions and build cross-sectoral partnerships for all the Goals,” she added.
According to her, the validation exercise “will empower us with an objective insights and constructive feedback which will enable us to fully understand our wins, close the gaps and provide potential opportunities to accelerate the attainment of these Goals.”
“This remarkable initiative has empowered the state to lead the way in its drive towards achieving the global agenda. It has provided us with a platform to review our progress, share experiences, and learn from both the local communities and development partners,” she added.
Speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Onigbongbo LCDA, Oladotun Olakanle, said the VLR was important “to give us data driven appraisal as to where we require more work.’ ,
He said the VLR would give the State Government “as well as those of us at the local level, the opportunity to review the various data and statistics available, so that we can be able to project future development to impact our people generally.”