Post-2015 agenda to address MDGs’ unfinished goals

THE Federal Government has said that the post-2015 development agenda would tackle unfinished Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) framework.

Speaking at the validation workshop for the adoption of the final draft of the endpoint Nigeria MDGs reports, the Director/Secretary of programmes in the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, (OSSAP-MDGs), Ogenyi Ochapab said the best approach applied on MDGs would be adopted for the post-2015 agenda.

“ Nigeria would continue with the unfinished of the MDGs especially in health and HIV/AIDS, basic education, water and sanitation. The best practice that have emerged from implementation of MDGs would be adopted, institutionalized, and consolidated in the post-2015 agenda,” he said.

These, according to him, would include sustaining the inter-governmental partnerships in tackling poverty and providing social services through innovative programmes such Conditional Grant Scheme, Conditional Cash Transfer and other sector-based interventions among others.

He stressed that, early implementation of the post-2015 Development Agenda would be pursued with its integration into National and State Development strategies and plan.

He maintained that Nigeria has recorded major successes in MDGs.

“It is gratifying to note that Nigeria has recorded appreciable progress in the implementation of the MDGs particularly in the areas of universal primary enrollment, gender parity in education, reduction in the spread of HIV/AIDS, maternal and child mortality as well as prevalence of hunger,” he said.

“As Nigeria rounds up its implementation of the MDGs along with the rest of the world, it is important that we document these successes recorded, lessons learnt from the implementation and going forward,” he added.

In her remarks, the Country Director, United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Lamin Beyai, said UNDP will continue to support the country to in various aspects to with the framework of the post-2015 agenda.

“On our part, UNDP with its catalystic funding, technical capacity and, access to global best practice, will continue to support the Government of Nigeria in her efforts to tackle poverty and deprivation; promote human rights and international norms; build resilience to economic and ecological schocks; and expand the range of choices available to individuals and communities with the framework of the New Sustainable Development,” she stated.

Beyai listed that lack of comprehensive, accurate and timely data sufficiently disaggregated by geographic location, gender and socio-economic groups, has continues to affect the implementation and monitoring of progress towards the MDGs.

According to Beyai, for these needs to be address at the earliest opportunity, to successful implement programmes aimed at achieving the post-2015 agenda, it must develop robust data system, put in place the right institutional arrangement and build human resource capacity.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Imo State, and Mrs. Mma Nzeribe Michaels said “ we must continue to be focused in our efforts, while the vision of our country without poverty must not be lost despite current difficult times.”