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UN: SDG 2, Zero Hunger may not be Achieved in 2030

Published

2 years ago

July 24, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

UN: SDG 2, Zero Hunger may not be Achieved in 2030
***1/5th of Africans Faced Hunger in 2023

By: Michael Mike

The World is at the risk of not achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 and Zero Hunger by 2030.

The annual report, launched this year in the context of the G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty Task Force Ministerial Meeting in Brazil, issued by five United Nations (UN) agencies has warned.

The report which showed that the world has been set back 15 years, with levels of undernourishment comparable to those in 2008-2009, disclosed that around 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, equivalent to one in eleven people globally and one in five in Africa, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) published on Wednesday by five United Nations specialized agencies.

A statement on Thursday by the United Nations agencies said despite some progress in specific areas such as stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, an alarming number of people continue to face food insecurity and malnutrition as global hunger levels have plateaued for three consecutive years, with between 713 and 757 million people undernourished in 2023—approximately 152 million more than in 2019 when considering the mid-range (733 million).

The statement said: “Regional trends vary significantly: the percentage of the population facing hunger continues to rise in Africa (20.4 percent), remains stable in Asia (8.1 percent)—though still representing a significant challenge as the region is home to more than half of those facing hunger worldwide —and shows progress in Latin America (6.2 percent). From 2022 to 2023, hunger increased in Western Asia, the Caribbean, and most African subregions.

“If current trends continue, about 582 million people will be chronically undernourished in 2030, half of them in Africa, warn the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organisation (WHO). This projection closely resembles the levels seen in 2015 when the Sustainable Development Goals the were adopted, marking a concerning stagnation in progress.”

The report highlighted that access to adequate food remains elusive for billions. In 2023, around 2.33 billion people globally faced moderate or severe food insecurity, a number that has not changed significantly since the sharp upturn in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those, over 864 million people experienced severe food insecurity, going without food for an entire day or more at times.

The report added that this number has remained stubbornly high since 2020 and while Latin America showed improvement, broader challenges persist, especially in Africa where 58 percent of the population is moderately or severely food insecure.

“The lack of economic access to healthy diets also remains a critical issue, affecting over one-third of the global population. With new food price data and methodological improvements, the publication reveals that over 2.8 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2022. This disparity is most pronounced in low-income countries, where 71.5 percent of the population cannot afford a healthy diet, compared to 6.3 percent in high-income countries. Notably, the number dropped below pre-pandemic levels in Asia and in Northern America and Europe, while it increased substantially in Africa.

“While progress has been made in increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates among infants to 48%, achieving global nutrition targets will be a challenge. Low birthweight prevalence has stagnated around 15%, and stunting among children under five, while declining to 22.3%, still falls short of achieving targets. Additionally, the prevalence of wasting among children has not seen significant improvement while anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years has increased,” the report further said.

According to the report: “Similarly, new estimates of adult obesity show a steady increase over the last decade, from 12.1 percent (2012) to 15.8 percent (2022). Projections indicate that by 2030, the world will have more than 1.2 billion obese adults. The double burden of malnutrition – the co-existence of undernutrition together with overweight and obesity – has also surged globally across all age groups. Thinness and underweight have declined in the last two decades, while obesity has risen sharply.

“These trends underscore the complex challenges of malnutrition in all its forms and the urgent need for targeted interventions as the world is not on track to reach any of the seven global nutrition targets by 2030, the five agencies indicate.

“Food insecurity and malnutrition are worsening due to a combination of factors, including persisting food price inflation that continues to erode economic gains for many people in many countries. Major drivers like conflict, climate change, and economic downturns are becoming more frequent and severe. These issues, along with underlying factors such as unaffordable healthy diets, unhealthy food environments and persistent inequality, are now coinciding simultaneously, amplifying their individual effects.”

This year’s report’s theme “Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition’’, emphasized that achieving SDG 2 Zero Hunger requires a multi-faceted approach, including transforming and strengthening agrifood systems, addressing inequalities, and ensuring affordable and accessible healthy diets for all. It calls for increased and more cost-effective financing, with a clear and standardized definition of financing for food security and nutrition.

The heads of the five UN agencies, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu; IFAD President Alvaro Lario; UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell; WFP’s Executive Director Cindy McCain; and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus write in the report’s Foreword: “Estimating the gap in financing for food security and nutrition and mobilizing innovative ways of financing to bridge it must be among our top priorities. Policies, legislation and interventions to end hunger and ensure all people have access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food (SDG Target 2.1), and to end all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2) need significant resource mobilization. They are not only an investment in the future, but our obligation. We strive to guarantee the right to adequate food and nutrition of current and future generations”.

The statement said, as highlighted during a recent event in the High-Level Political Forum at UN headquarters in New York, the report underscores that the looming financing gap necessitates innovative, equitable solutions, particularly for countries facing high levels of hunger and malnutrition exacerbated by climate impacts.

It said: “Countries most in need of increased financing face significant challenges in access. Among the 119 low- and middle-income countries analyzed, approximately 63 percent have limited or moderate access to financing. Additionally, the majority of these countries (74 percent) are impacted by one or more major factors contributing to food insecurity and malnutrition. Coordinated efforts to harmonize data, increase risk tolerance, and enhance transparency are vital to bridge this gap and strengthen global food security and nutrition frameworks.

The FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu said: “Transforming agrifood systems is more critical than ever as we face the urgency of achieving the SDGs within six short years. FAO remains committed to supporting countries in their efforts to eradicate hunger and ensure food security for all. We will work together with all partners and with all approaches, including the G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, to accelerate the needed change. Together, we must innovate and collaborate to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems that can better withstand future challenges for a better world.”

IFAD President, Alvaro Lario: “The fastest route out of hunger and poverty is proven to be through investments in agriculture in rural areas. But the global and financial landscape has become far more complex since the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted in 2015. Ending hunger and malnutrition demands that we invest more – and more smartly. We must bring new money into the system from the private sector and recapture the pandemic-era appetite for ambitious global financial reform that gets cheaper financing to the countries who need it most.”

UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell: “Malnutrition affects a child’s survival, physical growth, and brain development. Global child stunting rates have dropped by one third, or 55 million, in the last two decades, showing that investments in maternal and child nutrition pay off. Yet globally, one in four children under the age of five suffers from undernutrition, which can lead to long-term damage. We must urgently step-up financing to end child malnutrition. The world can and must do it. It is not only a moral imperative but also a sound investment in the future.”

WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain: “A future free from hunger is possible if we can rally the resources and the political will needed to invest in proven long-term solutions. I call on G20 leaders to follow Brazil’s example and prioritize ambitious global action on hunger and poverty. “We have the technologies and know-how to end food insecurity – but we urgently need the funds to invest in them at scale. WFP is ready to step up our collaboration with governments and partners to tackle the root causes of hunger, strengthen social safety nets and support sustainable development so every family can live in dignity.”

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “The progress we have made on reducing stunting and improving exclusive breastfeeding shows that the challenges we face are not insurmountable. We must use those gains as motivation to alleviate the suffering that millions of people around the world endure every day from hunger, food insecurity, unhealthy diets and malnutrition. The substantial investment required in healthy, safe and sustainably produced food is far less than the costs to economies and societies if we do nothing.”

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World is an annual report jointly prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Since 1999, it has monitored and analysed the world’s progress towards ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition. It also provides an in-depth analysis of key challenges for achieving these goals in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report targets a wide audience, including policymakers, international organizations, academic institutions and the general public.

This year’s theme is timely and relevant in the run-up to the Summit of the Future, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025.

UN: SDG 2, Zero Hunger may not be Achieved in 2030

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Global Leaders Inspire Youth Action on Digital Education at LASSMUN 2026

Published

4 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Global Leaders Inspire Youth Action on Digital Education at LASSMUN 2026

By: Michael Mike

A powerful coalition of global and national leaders has challenged Nigerian students to take ownership of the future, as the Lagos Secondary Schools Model United Nations (LASSMUN) 2026 opened with a resounding focus on digital transformation, equity, and sustainable development.

At the heart of the gathering was a clear message: young people are not just participants in tomorrow’s world—they are already shaping it.

Delivering a keynote message, António Guterres underscored the United Nations’ unwavering belief in the capacity of youth to drive meaningful change. He told delegates that Model UN platforms are more than academic exercises—they are training grounds for leadership, diplomacy, and problem-solving in an increasingly complex world.

He emphasized that building a better future demands stamina, courage, and a deep commitment to fairness, urging students to always center the needs of the most vulnerable in their decision-making.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, reinforced the importance of education as a cornerstone of national progress, describing LASSMUN as a strategic investment in the next generation of leaders.

He highlighted ongoing efforts by the state government to strengthen education systems through innovation, infrastructure, and policies that promote critical thinking and character development. According to him, the discipline and engagement demanded by Model UN simulations mirror real-life governance and should inspire students to lead with integrity and purpose.

Providing a broader intellectual perspective, Efosa Osaghae, represented by Prof. Joshua Bolarinwa, said digital transformation holds immense promise for addressing global inequalities in education. However, he warned that without deliberate policies to ensure inclusiveness, technology could deepen existing divides.

He called for sustained investments in digital infrastructure, improved access, and stronger policy frameworks to ensure that no learner is left behind in the rapidly evolving knowledge economy.

The Director of the United Nations Information Centre Abuja, Ronald Kayanja, took the message further, reminding participants that youth are already central to global efforts on peace, climate action, and sustainable development.

He urged delegates to embrace dialogue, tolerance, and cooperation—core values of the United Nations—while also developing the critical ability to distinguish facts from misinformation in an increasingly polarized information landscape.

Earlier, LASSMUN President Damilola Ogunsanwo set the tone for the conference, describing it as a transformative experience that instills discipline, collaboration, and respect for global processes.

Also speaking, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Education District III, Mrs. Mojisola Christiana Yusuf, emphasized that Model UN bridges classroom learning with real-world application, equipping students with essential skills such as negotiation, public speaking, and teamwork.

Adding a development perspective, Ms. Genevieve Chukwuezi, representing the United Nations Development Programme Lagos Office, highlighted how technology proved indispensable during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity in learning despite widespread school closures.

She stressed that digital transformation must go beyond access to technology, focusing instead on innovation, scalability, and the ability to translate ideas into practical solutions that drive economic and social progress.

In a striking intervention, the conference Secretary-General, Praise Oyekunbi, cautioned against superficial adoption of technology, warning that digital tools without equitable access risk entrenching injustice rather than solving it.

“Technology without equity is not progress—it is exclusion,” she declared, drawing attention to the urgent need for inclusive digital policies.

With debates and committee sessions underway, LASSMUN 2026 is shaping up as more than a conference—it is a platform cultivating a new generation of informed, responsible, and globally conscious leaders ready to confront the defining challenges of the 21st century.

Global Leaders Inspire Youth Action on Digital Education at LASSMUN 2026

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Stakeholders Call for Stronger Enforcement, Early Intervention to Curb School Bullying in Nigeria

Published

4 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Stakeholders Call for Stronger Enforcement, Early Intervention to Curb School Bullying in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Stakeholders from government agencies, civil society, security institutions, and the education sector have called for urgent early intervention, stronger enforcement of anti-bullying policies, and expanded youth empowerment programmes to address rising cases of bullying in Nigerian schools.

They made the call at a Stakeholder Consultative Dialogue on Anti-Bullying in Nigerian Schools convened by International Alert Nigeria on Friday in Abuja, where experts warned that bullying is increasingly becoming a major driver of mental health challenges and broader social risks among young people.

NDLEA links bullying to drug abuse risks

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Marwa, warned that persistent bullying could expose young people to substance abuse and other harmful coping behaviours.

Represented by Henrietta HoldGod of the agency’s Counselling and Psychosocial Support Unit, he said victims of bullying often suffer anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal.

He stressed that in some cases, affected students may resort to drugs as a coping mechanism, noting that prevention of bullying directly aligns with NDLEA’s broader preventive mandate.

“Protecting children from bullying also means protecting them from pathways that may lead to drug abuse and other harmful behaviours,” he said, adding that safer schools are essential for building resilient communities.

NAPTIP urges zero tolerance and collective responsibility

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, described bullying as a violation of human rights that requires collective action across homes, schools, and communities.

Represented by NAPTIP Director Rebecca Enwusoyere, she called for strict zero-tolerance policies in schools, stronger parental engagement, and sustained community advocacy.

She also urged stakeholders to equip young people with skills to identify, resist, and report bullying, stressing that awareness campaigns, peer education, and safe reporting channels are critical to preventing silent suffering among victims.

Experts warn of rising mental health burden

A Senior Research Fellow in International Education and Development at the Open University, Dr. Margaret Ebubedike, said bullying had worsened in the post-COVID-19 period, with significant consequences for students’ mental health and learning outcomes.

She noted that bullying extends beyond individuals to affect families and the education system, disrupting academic engagement and undermining safe learning environments.

Citing regional data, she said between 27 and 50 percent of children in Sub-Saharan Africa experience bullying, warning that Nigeria’s situation appears more severe, with more than half of secondary school students reportedly affected.

“Tackling bullying requires a collective response involving parents, educators, policymakers, and communities,” she said.

Security agency warns of wider societal risks

The Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, cautioned that unresolved bullying cases could escalate into broader security threats if not addressed early.

Represented by CSC Adeoye Adegoke, he emphasised the need for early reporting systems and coordinated institutional responses to prevent escalation.

Federal Government reiterates policy commitment

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to tackling bullying through the National Policy on Anti-Bullying in Schools.

Representing the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mrs. Augustine Udo said the policy provides a framework for accountability, protection, and enforcement, urging stakeholders to move from policy discussions to practical implementation.

She called for stronger reporting mechanisms and increased empathy among students, teachers, and parents.

The Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria also confirmed that implementation guidelines and a dedicated committee have been established to ensure nationwide rollout of anti-bullying measures across schools.

Experts push for system-wide action

Behavioural Change Communication expert, Ms. Ayotola Ilori, said data shows bullying is widespread, with about 32 percent of Nigerians aged 12 to 17 affected, while as many as 85 percent are either victims, perpetrators, or both.

She welcomed the 2025 National Anti-Bullying Policy but warned that policy design alone is insufficient without full system-level implementation across schools nationwide.

Ilori also called for coordinated action across all 774 local government areas, urging students to speak up and avoid silence when facing bullying.

International Alert calls for practical interventions

Country Director of International Alert Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Udo, said the initiative was prompted by growing concerns over recent bullying incidents, including a widely reported case in Edo State.

Represented by Programme Manager Sunday Jimoh, he said the dialogue aimed to move beyond awareness creation to actionable policy solutions.

He noted that bullying is not limited to schools but also exists in workplaces, sports, and leadership spaces, describing it as a broader societal challenge.

Udo said the organisation is working with schools to establish Youth Peace Clubs, where students are trained in conflict resolution and the psychological impact of bullying.

He added that safe reporting systems are also being developed to ensure victims can report incidents before they escalate.

At the end of the dialogue, organisers said a communiqué and policy roadmap would be developed to guide future advocacy and strengthen government engagement on anti-bullying interventions nationwide.

Stakeholders Call for Stronger Enforcement, Early Intervention to Curb School Bullying in Nigeria

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Nigerian envoy visits troops in Benin, urges professionalism

Published

4 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Nigerian envoy visits troops in Benin, urges professionalism

By: Zagazola Makama

The Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Amb. Bukar Kalambe, has visited Nigerian troops deployed under Operation AWATSE African Alliance II (OPAA II), urging them to uphold professionalism and represent the country with dignity.

Thrme visit took place on April 15, 2026, at Togbin Camp, where the envoy was accompanied by the Defence Adviser, Col. S.A. Yahaya, embassy staff, and the President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Benin Republic branch, Alhaji Muhammad Muniru.

According to the sources, the visit was aimed at boosting the morale of the troops and reinforcing diplomatic support for the ongoing mission.During the interaction, Kalambe charged the troops to remain disciplined and committed to their mandate, while serving as good ambassadors of Nigeria.

He also assured them of continued support from the Nigerian mission in Benin Republic to ensure the success of the operation.

The Commanding Officer of OPAA II, Lt.-Col. A.A. Ikoro, later conducted the envoy on a guided tour of the camp, showcasing facilities, vehicles, and operational equipment provided by the Nigerian Army for the mission.End

Nigerian envoy visits troops in Benin, urges professionalism