FG to partner UN on establishing SDG innovation hubs across Nigeria

Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, senior special assistant to the president on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), says the federal government in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will set up SDG innovation hubs across the country. 

Orelope-Adefulire said this on Wednesday at a national dialogue held in Abuja. 

She said the hubs will serve as a mechanism to strengthen social protection at the federal level. 

“It is a strategic initiative hinged solidly on the pillars of SDG-17, which recognise that the SDG can only be realised through strong partnerships and cooperation, as well as the power of access to technology and knowledge in learning and fostering innovation,” she said.

“The proposed SDG innovation hubs will be a platform through which the SDG state offices with a good track record of SDGs implementation, will be given the leadership responsibility of coordinating SDGs advocacy and replicating global best practices on the SDGs. 

“They will also be tasked with piloting innovative solutions on the most pertinent issues within their geo-political zones by aligning them with SDGs with the greatest multiplier effects to help meet these needs.”

While noting that budgetary allocation for SDG projects is “grossly” inadequate, she added that if the global goals are to be attained by 2030, then it cannot rely on the traditional budgetary sources. 

She appealed for support from different stakeholders to help fast-track the achievement of the SDGs by 2030. 

“In this regard, there is a strong need for concerted efforts through a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure that these hubs are able to function outside the scope of this programme. They must be sustainable, inclusive, proactive and solutions-based,” she said.

“Let us work together to fast track the implementation of the SDGs. Already, COVID-19 has denied us the opportunity; it has eroded what we have achieved. So, there is a need for us to double action in this regard to claim all what we have lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we are well aware, traditional budgetary sources are grossly inadequate to finance the SDGs, and as such, adequate financial resources must be mobilised through both ‘traditional’ and ‘non-traditional’ sources.

“Thus, I urge you in your various capacities to key into the dialogue here today as we seek your commitment and support as critical stakeholders to help us fast-track the achievement of the SDGs by the year 2030.”

In his remarks, Lealem Dinku, UNDP deputy resident representative,  represented by Clare Henshaw, programme specialist, said the UNDP in collaboration with the federal government is “in the process of establishing SDGs accelerator/innovation hubs in six states (Sokoto, Gombe, Enugu, Delta, Lagos and Nasarawa state) representing six geopolitical zones”. 

“The SDGs innovation hubs will proffer tailored technical solutions to each sub-region. In particular, they will play a key role in facilitating state level policy advocacy, including feeding to state level planning and policy implementation as well as acting as a learning/knowledge center on SDGs,” Dinku added.