The Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has reaffirmed its commitment to evidence-based governance aimed at accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across the state.

The office said its focus remains on using reliable data, effective coordination, and measurable impact to ensure development initiatives improve the lives of residents.

Speaking on Tuesday during the 2026 annual ministerial press briefing marking the third year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, the Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Oreoluwa Finnih, said Lagos was strengthening its data tracking and service delivery systems by integrating information across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

According to her, the data-driven approach is already producing visible results, particularly through Lagos State’s active role in the Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 Core Working Group.

She explained that the initiative is helping the state design and implement evidence-based interventions in health, education, and social development.

“Data is the bedrock of sustainable development; it allows us to move from intuition to impact,” Finnih said.

“By strengthening inter-agency data frameworks, we are not only tracking progress but also deepening accountability to every resident of Lagos. Our focus is to use these insights to close gaps in inclusion and economic opportunity.”

Finnih also highlighted the successful coordination of Lagos State’s second Voluntary Local Review (VLR), which brought together communities, stakeholders, and development partners to assess progress on the SDGs at the local level.

She noted that the exercise further positioned Lagos as a leading voice in localising and reporting on the SDGs globally.

Other achievements highlighted by the office include the second edition of the Advocacy for Women’s Financial Inclusion initiative targeted at underserved communities, improved policy alignment across MDAs to support the 2030 Agenda, and expanded awareness campaigns such as SDG Clubs in primary schools and social impact cinema projects aimed at promoting behavioural change among young people.

The Special Adviser added that the office continued to participate actively in global sustainability engagements, including the United Nations General Assembly, as well as the Rabat, Khartoum, and Niamey Processes.

According to her, these engagements help Lagos align its development priorities with global best practices.

As the office marks its 10th anniversary, Finnih said preparations are underway to strengthen institutional capacity through the 2025 Annual Strategic Retreat and other capacity-building programmes to meet the evolving development needs of the state.

“As we look to the future, our goal is to further strengthen our systems and accelerate progress through measurable action,” she said.
“We remain committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey toward a resilient and prosperous Lagos.”