Young Nigerians need peaceful society to thrive, says SDGs advocate

Joshua Alade, founder of the Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs), a non-governmental organisation, says the youth needs a peaceful society to help them learn and earn.

Speaking on Thursday during a discussion at the Lagos People’s Assembly, Alade said insecurity and the high cost of living in the country are restraining youths from contributing significantly to their communities.

More than 70 young people gathered for the Lagos People’s Assembly, with the theme United for a Sustainable Nigeria, organised by NGYouthSDGs with the support of Action for Sustainable Development.

The event addressed social protection, climate action, access to healthcare, decent work, peace, security and youth inclusion in policies and programmes that will help achieve sustainable development in Nigeria.

“Quality education, decent work, peace and security are at the centre of the SDGs for young people,” Alade said.

“Young Nigerians need a peaceful society to help them learn and earn. The socioeconomic challenges young people face in light of the high cost of living and insecurity are hampering their ability to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.

“Recognizing the inherent leadership skills and potential of young people, facilitating their transition into decent work and empowering them to contribute to national discussions and initiatives on sustainable development is very important.”

In a statement, Shadrach Akpem, project manager, Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative, said the latest report by the United Nations shows that the country has only achieved about 15 per cent of the SDGs, with African countries struggling to achieve the SDGs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“This September marked the halfway point of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a 15-year plan by world leaders to end global poverty and inequalities by improving access to quality education and decent work while fighting climate change and ensuring a peaceful and prosperous world,” the statement reads.

“With less than seven years to 2030, the Nigerian government, private sector and youth stakeholders should take a people-focused approach with clear implementation plans to alleviate the current challenges young people face.”

Boluwatito Fatade, a participant at the programme, said there is the need to sustain conversations, foster collaborations and drive advocacy for the SDGs.

The Lagos People’s Assembly serves as a collaborative platform to raise awareness and foster dialogue about critical issues facing people in relation to SDGs 1, 4, 8, 12 and 13.

The assembly brought diverse participants from the youth, private sector, civil society, academia and government to collectively address these challenges, share innovative solutions and inspire actionable change.

“Through this programme, we seek to provide a platform for people’s voices, especially young people, to be heard and inspire action from the Nigerian government towards reaching the targets of the SDGs,” the NGO said.

“In line with this is to review the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria and provide recommendations for actions during the remaining years of the SDGs. Participants today reaffirmed their commitment to driving positive changes both online and offline in building a more sustainable world.

“Sustainable development is a collective effort. Everyone, from grassroots organizations to community leaders, contributes to societal progress. There is no development without civil society, local actors, social movements and young people.”