Lagos charges local governments to achieve SDGs

The Lagos state government has charged local governments to accelerate efforts towards attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

At a forum in Ikeja, Solape Hammond, special adviser to the governor on SDGs and investment, described local authorities as purveyors of SDGs who ensure that government initiatives have significant impact on the lives of people.

Sylvester Ogunkelu, chairman, Lagos house of assembly committee on SDGs and investment, said delivery of SDGs is a shared responsibility that humanity has placed on everyone irrespective of socio-political affiliation, religious or ethnic belief because poverty, hunger, conflict, environmental disaster does not recognise individual or societal sentiment.

He encouraged participants to help in influencing government’s decisions and policies in responding to the needs of the citizens in their local communities.

“No one must be left behind in the attainment of these goals. As an institution with several interdependent entities, all LGAs and LCDAs in the state will be empowered to galvanise resources and create agenda towards achieving these goals,” Ogunkelu said.

Lekan Fatodu, senior special assistant on SDGs to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, said: “The office of SDGs and investment has established a participatory structure that encourages ideas, principles, policies, efforts towards these goals. Definitely, gatherings like this provides opportunity for structured dialogue that will make our local stakeholders to become more proactive.”

Gboyega Olorunfemi, principal consultant,  Enviromax Global Resources Limited, emphasized the necessity of stakeholders engagement at the local level.

“If we must set up Lagos for success, we must focus on systems, root causes and connections between changes, not just thematic sectors to build solutions that respond to people’s daily realities through the lenses of SDGs integrated into the procedural framework of T.H.E.M.ES, ” he said.

“Lagos must reclaim the socio-economic space put up by implement the SDGs for social, political and economic prosperity.”

Extolling the benefits of SDGs, Temitope Ajayi, government relations and marketing communication expert, advised local governments to secure political support for SDGs related advocacy work and obtain domestic resources for implementation activities.