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SDG: Nigeria Off-Track by 60 percent, UN Laments

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SDG: Nigeria Off-Track by 60 percent, UN Laments

By: Michael Mike

United Nations has decried that Nigeria is currently off-track on nearly 60 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators, with gender inequality and the marginalization of Women and girls being a significant barrier to progress.

Speaking on Tuesday at a programme organised by the UN Women, “Closing the Gender Gap: Financing Solutions for SDG 5, a goal that serves as a critical accelerator for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to Nigeria, Mohamed Fall said:
“Gender equality is not just a goal in itself; it is a catalyst for progress across all SDGs, amplifying efforts in education, health, economic growth, climate action, peace and security.”

He added that: “As we gather today, it is crucial to reflect on the current state of our journey towards the SDGs. Nigeria, like many other nations, faces significant challenges in meeting these goals. According to the latest data, Nigeria is currently off-track on nearly 60% of the SDG indicators, with gender inequality and the marginalization of Women and girls being a significant barrier to progress.”

He lamented that: “Women and girls continue to experience disproportionate levels of poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, and significant barriers to economic participation and decision-making.

“The status of women and girls in Nigeria highlights these challenges. Over 70% of women in rural areas lack access to basic education and healthcare. Nigeria ranks 130th out of 166 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, indicating severe disparities in economic participation, education, health, and political empowerment. Gender-based violence remains pervasive, affecting nearly one in three women. Women also represent less than 5% of Nigeria’s national parliament, reflecting significant underrepresentation in decision-making processes.”

Fall said: “Addressing these challenges requires a strategic and well-financed commitment to SDG 5. Funding SDG 5 can transform the lives of women and girls by providing access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. It can reduce gender-based violence through targeted programmes and legal reforms, ensuring a safer environment for all.

“Additionally, increasing women’s participation in leadership and decision-making will enable more inclusive governance, leading to more equitable policies that benefit the entire society.”

He noted that: “Within the UN System, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and cut across all strategic pillars. This underscores our collective commitment to mainstreaming gender perspectives into every aspect of our work, ensuring our efforts are holistic and inclusive.”

He said that: “The journey towards achieving the SDGs by 2030 is challenging, but it is not insurmountable. By leveraging the transformative power of SDG 5 and implementing gender-responsive budgeting practices, we can make significant strides in bridging the gender gap and fostering a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria for all.”

On her part, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong: “It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities: Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems; Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy; All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence; and Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action.”

She said: “As we gather here today, we are reminded of the critical importance of SDG 5 in our collective efforts to build a more equitable and inclusive society. Gender equality is not just a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.”

She noted that: “The journey toward achieving SDG 5 has made significant strides, yet we acknowledge that substantial work remains, particularly in the area of financing. Ensuring adequate and targeted financial resources is crucial to closing the gender gaps that persist across various sectors in Nigeria.

“We also believe that Gender Responsive Budgeting provides a well-established policy approach to support the increased alignment of public resources with gender equality objectives.”

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire said Nigeria’s strategic approach to the implementation of the SDGs can be seen at two different levels – National and Sub-national.

She explained that: “At the National level, we work closely with the Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to integrate the SDGs into their sectoral policies and plans. At the Sub-national level, we are working closely with the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mainstream the SDGs into their medium and long-term development policies and plans. This is our approach to Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS) for the SDGs.”

She noted that: “Since 2016, the Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP (2017-2020); The Economic Sustainability Plan of 2020; The National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy of 2021; and Nigeria’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021-2025) have all been inspired by the SDGs and the cardinal objectives of the immediate past administration. For example, the Medium term National Development Plan aims to unlock Nigeria’s potentials in all the sectors of the economy for an inclusive, broad-based and sustainable national development.”

She disclosed that: “As at 2021, total investment requirements for the National Development Plan (2021-2025) was estimated at N348.1 trillion, with public sector is expected to commit N49.7 trillion, while the organised private sector is expected to finance the balance of N298.3 trillion. Thus, the role of the private sector in financing sustainable development cannot be overemphasized.”

Orelope-Adefulire said: “As we approach the 2030 deadline, the need for robust monitoring and evaluation cannot be overemphasised. Periodic progress reports and Voluntary National Reviews will be needed to track progress or lack of it. As part of the transformative actions needed to deliver on the SDGs, current and future development partner support should refocus on strengthening the integrated approach to the implementation of the SDGs. This includes capacity strengthening and support towards the effective implementation of key initiatives to address the challenges associated with financing sustainable development.”

SDG: Nigeria Off-Track by 60 percent, UN Laments

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Ceasefire Announced: Gaza Emerges Triumphant Over The Zionist Regime

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Ceasefire Announced: Gaza Emerges Triumphant Over The Zionist Regime

By: Husaini Mohammed Isa

The unbreakable spirit of Palestinian resistance has compelled Israel into a humiliating ceasefire after failing to achieve any of its war aims.

After 15 months of Israel’s brutal genocide in Gaza, Israel has exposed to the world its true nature of barbarism, racial supremacy and oppression.

In stark contrast, the Palestinian people have displayed breathtaking heroism, dignity and resilience in the face of the US-backed Zionist onslaught, and are now beginning to see the fruits of their struggle.

As we celebrate this moment of triumph and jubilation with the Palestinians, we also acknowledge that their fight for liberation continues and we will continue to support them with prayers for them to succeed.

It is our duty in Nigeria to stand firmly with them and support their noble cause until full victory over the Zionist enemy is achieved.

Ceasefire Announced: Gaza Emerges Triumphant Over The Zionist Regime

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NSCDC Takes Medical Outreach to Community in Nasarawa

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NSCDC Takes Medical Outreach to Community in Nasarawa

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil. Defence Corps have continued to strengthen collaborations with one of the best HMOs in Nigeria, the United Healthcare International Ltd., this is in a bid to improve the well being of the serving officers and some host communities and also improve on grassroot security techniques and effective information gathering to forestall criminality.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a medical outreach organised by the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi, said the partnership with the United Healthcare International has positively impacted the Corps hence in order to give back to the communities and further foster and improve on the existing synergy between NSCDC and host communities, the Medical Health Service Department of the NSCDC organized the medical outreach programme to promote effective collaborations.

Delivering a goodwill message while representing the CG at the opening ceremony, ACG Ilelaboye Oyejide reiterated the commitment of the Corps to enhancing the health and well being of not only officers and men of the Corps but also the host
communities.

“In carrying out our statutory mandates, it requires the supports of the host communities for positive results and this is why the NSCDC is concerned about the state of health and wellness of the people.

“As an agency with the roles and responsibility of Disaster mitigation we belief that the free medical outreach organized for the people will go a long way to further cement the existing working relationship of the Corps and the entire community”.

The NSCDC Boss hinted that the Medical outreach would be carried out in various communities as time unfolds he noted that the Corps medical officers alongside the United Healthcare HMOs would be at Laminga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State for the first phase in the year.

NSCDC Takes Medical Outreach to Community in Nasarawa

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US Deputy Secretary of State Campbell Commends Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry on Galactica Funds Repatriation

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US Deputy Secretary of State Campbell Commends Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry on Galactica Funds Repatriation

By: Michael Mike

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has commended the Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its close collaboration in successfully repatriating funds linked to forfeited luxury real estate and the Galactica Star Superyacht.

According to the spokesman of Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim AbdulKadir, the comment was made during a valedictory telephone conversation of his boss with the Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell.

He said the departing Deputy Secretary of State made the commendation and thanked Tuggar and his team over the repatriation, stressing that the repatriation negotiations had made him a believer in the country, and further pledged the support and cooperation of the incoming Deputy Secretary of State.

AbdulKadir said Tuggar thanked him for his dedication to the process and steadfast determination to bring the repatriation to fruition, and addressing the bilateral issues between the two countries, such as leveraging technology to turn digital assets like Binance into mutually beneficial opportunities for Nigeria to become a hub of data mining, data storage and artificial intelligence.

Tuggar said as energy producers, “Nigeria’s robust gas energy transition plans, like the African Atlantic gas pipeline traversing 15 African countries, can provide the requisite energy supply for crypto players and data miners. This has great potential, and we are counting on our allies like the United States and Morocco.”

He noted that: “Truly, Nigeria and the United States are going back to basics, back to strong values, and this is something we can build upon.”

Plans are on to use the repatriated funds to expand the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-Up project through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). The programme is intended to increase access to electricity services in the country.

US Deputy Secretary of State Campbell Commends Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry on Galactica Funds Repatriation

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