The Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja and the Connected Development (CODE), have engaged youths to create more awareness on the need to understand the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.
They made the commitment in Abuja during a two-day University’s SDGs Summit, organized by the Nile University in partnership with Follow Taxes, We-Care Foundation and CENDAL
The Executive Director of CODE, Mr. Hamzat Lawal, sought increased engagement and participation of youths in the development process. Represented by Mr. Mukhtar Modibbo, Lawal noted that youths are the future of the country. He therefore urged the incoming administration to invest in them to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
He said: “I believe that the energy and enthusiasm of our youth are instrumental in driving forward the SDG agenda. We must recognize their potentials and empower them to take action. With the challenges that we face today, it is more important than ever to collaborate and work together towards a sustainable future.
“Through our collective efforts, we can make significant progress towards achieving the SDGs and build a more equitable, just and sustainable world. I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of this summit for their hard work and dedication in bringing us together.”
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Prof. Dilli Dogo, said it was important to create more awareness about the SDGs as adequate information remained key to achieving the goals by 2030.
He said: “It is important for universities in the country to collaborate with civil society organizations to create more awareness about the SDGs. This is because young people play a key role for us to be able to achieve them.”
While speaking on the SDGs, 400 level student at Nile University, James Williams Chiahukammanya, said that the summit had given them the knowledge of the role youths can play in making impacts in their communities.
“As a student, it has given us a better picture of what the world needs now and the role we can play to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals for our end”, he said.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and to ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
Nigeria, a major signatory to the SDGs, is said to have shown commitment to the 17 goals and their 169 targets through the contributions of civil society organizations and other non-government organizations.
