The President of the senate, Godswill Akpabio,has advocated for partnership with relevant stakeholders towards attaining the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, adopted by the United Nations since 2015.
Senator Akpabio stated this over the weekend in Awka, Anambra State, at the maiden Southeast regional summit on SDGs organised by Nnamdi Azikiwe University Centre for Sustainable Development in collaboration with United Nations in Nigeria, where he was equally honoured with an award for promoting SDGs.
The former governor of Akwa-Ibom state, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, argued that the government, including politicians, individuals, nongovernmental organisations, community leaders and others should pull resources together to ensure that the goals were met at a record time.
According to him, this requires dialogue, political will, critical thinking, and sincerity because addressing the goals would not only help to address the problems of poverty, insecurity, climate change, and others but will speed up development especially in developing world.
Akpabio reassured the support of the tenth Senate to programmes, policies and actions geared towards realisations of the SDG through lawmaking and oversight functions in areas of education, water, food, security and others.
Presenting the keynote address, Professor Chinedum Uzoma Nwajiuba, a professor of agricultural economics, speaking on the theme: Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges,Gains and Prospects,said, “Development is about the human being, development would be humans having better life. Our interest is therefore for the human being to have a better life. Man is the beneficiary of development,but man is also the engineer of development.”
He urged the government to help eradicate the high rate of poverty in the country, provide adequate social infrastructures for citizens and boost the morale of the security personnel, by improving their welfare and equipping them appropriately to fight insecurity.
He hailed teachers for their efforts in positively impacting the society and urged the various governments to financially support them.
The Chairman of the occasion and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Bolaji Bernard Babatunde, affirmed that President Tinubu’s regime will sort the poverty situation in Nigeria.
He called on Nigerians to support the present regime.
Speaking earlier in her welcome address, the director of the centre for sustainable development, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Echendu Dolly Adinma , disclosed that, “Sustainable Development refers to the use of today’s resources in a manner that does not compromise the use of these resources by future generations.
“This year 2023 marks the midpoint in the implementation of the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development anchored on the 17 interconnected SDGs.”
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone, emphasized that the summit will be an annual event aimed at reinforcing stakeholders and governance structures to address existing and new SDGs challenges towards formulation of a pact that would assist in advancing its attainment by the year 2030.
On his part,the United Nations resident co-ordinator, Mathias Schmale, the co – host who spoke virtually, emphasized that Africa is the best investment of the 21st century and assured unending support of the UN to Nigeria.
Other speakers, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO) representative and Zimbabwean activist, Ms Inviolata Chinyangarara; the former vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State represented by his Deputy, Mrs Patricia Obila.
Governor of Enugu State ably represented by his deputy hinted on the need to carry women, youth and students along in the implementation of SDG.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye who was the guest lecture speaker, urged youths to shun crime and drugs for a better society.
However, the deputy director of the centre for sustainable development, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Dr. Tochukwu M.Oguegbe, appreciated all stakeholders who graced the occasion and promised a more packaged summit next year.
Anambra State Governor was represented by his commissioners’ for health and environment.
The occasion was climaxed with the presentation of awards to: Senator George Akume, Senator Godswill Akpabio,High Chief Kenneth Ifekudu(Agbalanze), Dr.Chidozie Wilson Nwankwo, Professor Ikenna Onyido, among others.
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