News Agency of Nigeria
Presidency appoints new SDGs student council excos

Presidency appoints new SDGs student council excos

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By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Presidency, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, has appointed new executives to the leadership of the SDGs National Students Council.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the National Coordinator of the council, Amb. Timothy Nwachukwu.

Nwachukwu said the council, chaired by Comrade Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, is committed to advancing the UN SDGs in the area of quality education.

He said the SDGs national students council serves as a platform for engaging and mobilising students across Nigeria to champion sustainable development through advocacy, campaigns, and strategic partnerships.

According to him, it will collaborate with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, diplomatic missions, and international development organisations to promote SDG awareness and localisation among Nigerian students.

He added that it would also engage national student bodies such as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS).

Also included is the National Association of Colleges of Education Students (NANCES).

The new appointees include Ismail Lawanson as Deputy National Coordinator; Abdulrasheed Mubarak, National Secretary; Stephen Omatule, National Programme/Project Coordinator; and Cynthia Agubama, National Treasurer.

Others are Elizabeth Adepoju, National Gender/Advocacy Officer; Ayuba Dhikirullahi, representative for NANCES; Ogidan Ibukun, representative for NAPS; and Joel Ogwuche, representative for NAUS.

The newly appointed executives pledged to implement impactful projects aimed at enhancing student welfare and advancing the SDGs in Nigeria.

They also assured the public of their commitment to transparency, accountability, and service delivery. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

IVLEAD targets 2,000 kids in footwear initiative

IVLEAD targets 2,000 kids in footwear initiative

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By Funmilayo Adeyemi

A social impact organisation, I Volunteer for Leadership (IVLEAD), has unveiled the Feet for the Future initiative to provide shoes to 2,000 underprivileged children in the FCT.

The initiative, which aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals, aims to eliminate inadequate footwear as a barrier to education and well-being for children in low-income communities.

At the unveiling in Abuja, IVLEAD Founder and Executive Director, Mr Mayowa Odetayo, said the project was conceived in response to the increasing number of school-aged children who either share shoes or walk barefoot.

He noted that this situation often results in irregular school attendance, foot injuries, infections, and emotional distress.

“This project is not just about shoes; it is about dignity, access, and opportunity.

“By putting durable, school-appropriate shoes on 2,000 children, we are reducing health risks, boosting self-esteem, and promoting consistent education,” Odetayo said.

He said the initiative contributes to poverty reduction by easing the financial burden on families and enabling children to attend school more regularly.

He added that it also promotes good health by reducing foot infections and injuries, and supports access to quality education by improving school attendance and participation.

Odetayo explained that by targeting disadvantaged children, the programme aims to reduce inequality and promote social inclusion.

He added that the involvement of community stakeholders and strategic partnerships ensures alignment with global efforts to strengthen sustainable development.

Under the programme, IVLEAD will organise three major outreach events annually, supported by smaller, community-specific interventions.

Also, local schools, parents, and leaders will help identify beneficiaries to foster ownership and ensure transparency.

He said the project’s long-term success would depend on strong partnerships with local businesses, international donors, and community networks.

“A robust monitoring framework will be deployed to track impact, assess challenges, and inform improvements.

“The project also includes risk mitigation strategies such as partnerships with local transport providers to ease logistics, financial planning to ensure sustainability beyond year three, and flexible resource allocation based on evolving needs,” he added.

Beyond shoe distribution, IVLEAD is recognised for its broader youth-focused initiatives in leadership, digital education, and governance.

Through mentorship and advocacy, the organisation has empowered over 4,000 young leaders, including school prefects and class captains, with the skills and values required for ethical leadership.

Odetayo, a Political Science graduate and youth development advocate, has served as Project Manager at Mind the Gap, where he led the NiTDA digital skills project and the Youth Empowered programme in partnership with the Nigeria Bottling Company.

Earlier in the year, IVLEAD hosted the premiere edition of the Unleash Your Leadership Potential Conference in Abuja.

The event attracted over 200 young participants and featured TEDx-style talks, workshops, and breakout sessions aimed at promoting purpose-driven, practical leadership among Nigerian youth. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

FG urges stakeholders to fast-track SDGs implementation

FG urges stakeholders to fast-track SDGs implementation

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By Salif Atojoko

Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, has urged stakeholders to intensify efforts toward the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.

She stated this in her keynote address delivered on her behalf by Dr Bala Yunusa, Senior Technical Adviser, at the North-East Regional Consultation in Gombe.

The event was part of Nigeria’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) preparation for the High-Level Political Forum in New York in July.

Orelope-Adefulire noted that world leaders established the Forum on Sustainable Development through the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as a follow up and review mechanism for the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that VNRs serve as the cornerstone of this review process.

Nigeria is currently undertaking its third VNR, engaging stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones to assess implementation progress, challenges and prospects.

Orelope-Adefulire stressed the need to fast-track progress on all the SDGs, noting that global progress on the goals was mixed, with Nigeria not exempted.

Citing the 2024 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Report, she stated that “Lack of progress toward the SDGs is universal, but developing countries and the world’s poorest people bear the brunt.”

She said ” currently, only 17 per cent of SDG targets are on track, nearly half show minimal or moderate progress, while over a third have stalled or regressed.”

At the national level, she said dwindling financial resources, the COVID-19 pandemic, and persistent insecurity had combined to slow-down Nigeria’s progress toward achieving the SDGs.

Orelope-Adefulire emphasised that the SDGs could not be achieved through isolated programmes but must be carefully integrated into national and sub-national policies and development plans.

She said robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER), such as the SDGs Progress reporting and the VNR, were essential.

Orelope-Adefulire underscored the need for collaboration across the public and private sectors, the UN Development System, the donor community, academia, and civil society to ensure that no one was left behind.

She said world leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to take “bold, ambitious, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to fast-track the achievement of the SDGs.”

This, she said, was through the “Pact for the Future,” adopted during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024.

She referenced Mr António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, who said massive investment and more effective partnerships were needed to drive critical transitions across food, energy and digital connectivity to unlock progress across the goals.

Orelope-Adefulire commended institutional members of the Multi-Stakeholder Core Working Group for Nigeria’s 2025 VNR for their dedication in organising and guiding the entire VNR process.

“I appreciate and commend members of the Core Working Group from relevant MDAs, the UN Development System, the Private Sector Advisory Group, the Civil Society Strategy Group and academia.

“Your commitment is highly valued. The consulting team for this VNR is equally appreciated,” she said.

In his presentation on the Overview of SDGs Implementation in Nigeria and 2025 VNR Process, Yunusa referenced the UN DESA Report of 2024.

He highlighted the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions and climate chaos on SDG progress.

According to the report, if current trends persist, no fewer than 590 million people may still live in extreme poverty by 2030.

It said without substantial acceleration in poverty reduction, fewer than three in 10 countries would halve national poverty.

It added that nearly one in 10 people globally would face hunger, and 2.4 billion people would experience moderate to severe food insecurity.

As part of Nigeria’s VNR consultative process, no fewer than 150 participants drawn from the six states of the North East were updated on the institutional frameworks for the implementation of the SDGs.

They focused on progress on the 17 SDGs, implementation, challenges and lessons learnt.

At the end of the Regional Consultation, participants reflected on these and offered context specific recommendations.

They also suggested implementation strategies to fast-track the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.

Key stakeholders, including representatives of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, private sector, civil society, academia, persons with disabilities and youths were in attendance.

In his address of welcome, Sulaiman Turaki, the Focal Person of the SDGs Project Support Unit in Gombe State, described the Regional Consultation as a critical dialogue that would shape Nigeria’s next VNR.

He said it would ensure that the country’s progress, challenges, and opportunities were accurately reflected and that no one was left behind in the overall development journey.

“This gathering is a testament to our collective commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goal,” said Turaki.

He called on stakeholders to engage actively, share insights, and propose solutions that will make a real impact.

“Let us embrace this opportunity to drive meaningful change, inspire innovative policies, and accelerate sustainable development efforts across the North-East Zone,” Turaki stated.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Africa needs 4bn additional financing to achieve SDGs – UNGA President

Africa needs $194bn additional financing to achieve SDGs – UNGA President

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By Cecilia Ologunagba

The President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Philémon Yang, says Africa will need 194 billion dollars in additional financing annually to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Yang, said this at a joint debate on the New Partnership for Africa’s development at the ongoing 79th session of the UNGA at UN headquarters in New York.

The UNGA president acknowledged Africa’s potential but underscored urgent need for both international support and systemic reforms across the continent in order for it to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Yang addressed the continent’s progress toward the SDGs and the African Union’s (AU) related framework, known as Agenda 2063.

“There has never been a better time to accelerate progress towards peace, prosperity and sustainable development,” he stated.

Yang highlighted the recent adoption of the Pact for the Future which acknowledges the special challenges faced by the most vulnerable countries, in particular African States, in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

He stressed that despite Africa’s vast energy and agricultural resources, many nations suffer from electricity deficits and food insecurity.

Moreover, debt distress and the unjust global financial system have exacerbated Africa’s financial pressures, resulting in a development financing gap of $1.6 trillion.

He called for a more just financial system, expressing that the current system “prioritises high interest rates and debt servicing over investments in resilience and social services”.

While acknowledging the bleak economic outlook, Yang also praised Africa’s resilience as economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to increase from 2.6 per cent in 2023 to 3.8 per cent by 2025.

He urged the global community to help transform Africa’s “untapped ingenuity” into solid foundations for inclusive growth, emphasising that the continent’s growing working-age population could be a major driver of transformative change.

“With more effective financial management, stronger domestic resource mobilisation and better use of debate as a development tool, African economies can fortify and sustain their growth,” he said.

Yang also underlined the importance of peace and political solutions to conflicts, especially in countries such as Sudan and Somalia.

He called for legal and societal reforms to address systemic barriers to justice and inequality, noting that “promoting peace and advancing the rule of law in Africa demands a comprehensive strategy”.

He pledged to keep Africa’s development at the forefront of the General Assembly’s agenda, saying: “Africa must continue to rise” in its pursuit of a peaceful and prosperous future. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

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