SDG: UN urges Nigerian governments to redouble efforts

The United Nations (UN) has urged Nigeria to redouble efforts to attain the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aimed at ending poverty and ensuring peace and prosperity.

Mohammed Fall, the United Nations Residents Coordinator in Nigeria, made the call when he visited Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, in his office on Friday in Enugu.

Fall tasked Nigeria governments to invest more on human capital development in order to transform the country from its present challenges.

“As the SDGs is ending in 2030 with less than six years to go, we see that Nigeria is off track.

“There are some indicators that Nigeria has not even reached the  Millennium Development Goals, let alone for SDGs. They should boost education like Gov Mbah did, by improving access and quality.

“In the education system, they can introduce digitalisation, bring energy which is critical for Development.

“Government needs agriculture, which is one of the sector that ensures food production and of high concern in the developmental potentials.

“I have seen a country improved in education simply because solar power was provided, making teachers staying long time with the children.

“These are kinds of actions that lead to development and one of the states we can count on among the 36 states and FCT will be Enugu State,” he said.

While lauding Mbah for his strides in education especially with the Smart Schools and water provisions, Fall said that there was the need for governments to train children and young people with basic knowledge.

According to him, today’s world is not about what one has on ground or amount of cash or currency one has as a reserve, but for any community, society or nation, is to invest in human capital development.

The coordinator said that in spite of the challenges facing the country presently, leaders should go out of their way to improve the wellbeing of their people.

“UN has 26 agencies in Nigeria with wide range of expertise that the country can explore to bring development for its people,” he said.

Noting that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN would end by 2030, Fall said that the organisation was focusing more on agriculture; security, social protection and job creation, education, renewal energy, as well as digitalisation for acceleration.

Fall said that any success recorded in Enugu State would continue to change the narrative of Nigeria and Africa.