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UN Urges Africa to Prioritise People, Partnerships to Rescue SDGs
UN Urges Africa to Prioritise People, Partnerships to Rescue SDGs
By: Michael Mike
The United Nations has called on African governments, development institutions and the private sector to dramatically scale up investments in people and strengthen strategic partnerships to reverse the continent’s slow progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) before the 2030 deadline.
The appeal was made on Saturday at the Africa Social Impact Summit 2026 in Lagos, where the UN warned that Africa faces an increasingly difficult development landscape marked by economic headwinds, shrinking international aid, climate shocks and persistent conflicts.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. in Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Muriel Mafico, said the continent must urgently shift its focus towards investing in its people if it hopes to unlock sustainable economic growth.
“The wealth of a nation is not measured by what it extracts from the ground. It is measured by what it unlocks in its people,” Mafico declared, stressing that development financing should ultimately be about creating opportunities for citizens rather than merely balancing budgets.
Addressing government officials, development partners, civil society organisations and business leaders, she argued that every child deserves quality education, every young person should have access to decent employment, every woman should be empowered to fulfil her potential, and communities must be equipped to withstand future economic and climate-related shocks.
She painted a sobering picture of global development, noting that only 36 per cent of the SDG targets are currently on track or making moderate progress. According to her, declining official development assistance, mounting debt burdens and a widening financing gap for developing countries are threatening efforts to meet the 2030 Agenda.
Despite the setbacks, Mafico maintained that Africa possesses the human and economic potential to change its development trajectory.
With less than five years remaining to meet the SDGs, she urged African countries to embrace greater urgency, ambition and collective action, insisting that sustainable development cannot be imported.
“No country can outsource its development. No nation can import resilience,” she said, calling on governments to strengthen domestic leadership, promote innovation and build partnerships that reinforce national priorities.
Turning to Nigeria, Mafico described the country’s youthful population as one of its greatest strategic assets, saying deliberate investment in education, innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development could transform the country into a global centre for inclusive growth.
She warned that neglecting investments in young people and women would deepen inequality and limit the country’s future economic prospects.
The UN official also advocated a new model of development financing anchored on stronger domestic resource mobilisation, increased private sector investment, technological innovation and expanded support for entrepreneurs.
She emphasised that partnerships should be driven by measurable impact rather than rhetoric, with people remaining at the centre of every development initiative.
Highlighting the UN’s ongoing collaboration with Nigerian authorities and other stakeholders, Mafico said the organisation is supporting reforms in institutional capacity, social protection, renewable energy, digital innovation, food systems, education and programmes aimed at expanding opportunities for women and young people.
She urged participants at the summit to ensure that the gathering delivers tangible outcomes through stronger partnerships, increased investments and coordinated action capable of accelerating sustainable development across Africa.
UN Urges Africa to Prioritise People, Partnerships to Rescue SDGs
Seven ISWAP Fighters’ Family Members, 12 Children Flee Yaganari Enclave, Surrender to Troops
By Zagazola Makama
Seven family members of suspected terrorists, accompanied by 12 children, have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI at Mafa in Borno State, following reported hunger and violent clashes among rival terrorist factions.
According to sources, the seven women surrendered at about 5 p.m. on Aug. 17 to troops of 112 Task Force Battalion deployed in Mafa.
The women were identified as Falamatai Modu, 30; Kelu Yaga, 25; Fada Yaga, 30; Gwaya Kadi, 25; Hauwa Mallam, 25; Maryam Yusuf, 25; and Fanna Kadi, 40.
They were accompanied by 12 children, aged between three months and 10 years.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the women escaped from the Yaganari terrorist enclave due to hunger and concerns over their safety following violent clashes between rival terrorist factions.
The report said the escapees were profiled and documented by the troops and would be handed over to the 24 Task Force Brigade Military Intelligence Regiment for further action.
The development highlights the increasing pressure on terrorist enclaves in the North-East, where sustained military operations and internal factional clashes continue to disrupt the groups’ activities and survival networks.
The military authorities said the general security situation across the theatre remained calm but unpredictable, while troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remained satisfactory.
Seven ISWAP Fighters’ Family Members, 12 Children Flee Yaganari Enclave, Surrender to Troops
Again, Military Neutralise 8 ISWAP Fighters in Precision Airstrike in Timbuktu Triangle
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have neutralised eight suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in a precision airstrike at Thethangala, within the Timbuktu Triangle of Borno State.
According to a Special Situation Report obtained by Zagazola Makama, the operation followed intelligence on terrorist activities in the area.
The report said a Guardian aircraft established overhead at Thethangala at about 9:56 p.m. on Aug. 18 and subsequently sighted eight terrorists who had converged and were lying in wait, apparently preparing to attack troops at their location.
Following the sighting, the aircraft conducted a precision strike on the identified terrorists.
“Battle Damage Assessment shows all the terrorists neutralised with no further movement observed after the strike,” the report stated.
The military said the general security situation remained calm but unpredictable, while the morale and fighting efficiency of troops remained satisfactory.
The latest air operation is part of sustained intelligence-led efforts by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI to disrupt terrorist concentrations and prevent planned attacks against troops operating in the North-East.
The Timbuktu Triangle remains one of the areas where terrorist groups have continued to seek opportunities to regroup and launch attacks against military positions.
Again, Military Neutralise 8 ISWAP Fighters in Precision Airstrike in Timbuktu Triangle
NTTF VP Mailantarki tasks stakeholders on grassroots development
The Vice President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Honourable Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, has commended the sponsor of the Senior Advocate Cup, Muhammed Sani Ndanusa (SAN), urging more stakeholders to emulate his profound passion for grassroots talent development across Northern Nigeria and the nation at large.
Hon. Mailantarki gave the commendation in a press statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Mr Adamu Usman Ahmed.
Mailantarki while speaking during the closing ceremony of the highly anticipated tournament congratulated the various winners across the different categories of Men Singles, Junior Single and the veterans.
The NTTF VP thrilled the audience at the Kaduna Police Officers’ Mess Indoor Sport hall with an exciting developmental announcement.
He revealed that the two finalists of the Junior Singles category have been selected for a special performance camping program at his prestigious Table Tennis Academy in Abuja. Based on their performance at the camp, they stand the chance of securing full sponsorship to an upcoming international youth championship.
The 6th edition of the championship witnessed spectacular displays of talents. In the elite category, Abayomi Martins from Borno State delivered a stellar performance to take home the overall winner’s prize, leaving Kamal Muktar of Kano State to settle for the runner-up medal.
In the fiercely contested Junior category, the host state’s Mustapha Muktar (Kaduna) triumphed over Taraba State’s Harrison Jacob to clinch the ultimate prize.
Looking to the future, Hon. Mailantarki assured fans and players that similar grassroots and elite developmental championships would be organized in other states to ensure the continuous discovery and nurturing of table tennis talents in the country.
NTTF VP Mailantarki tasks stakeholders on grassroots development
Seven ISWAP Fighters’ Family Members, 12 Children Flee Yaganari Enclave, Surrender to Troops
Again, Military Neutralise 8 ISWAP Fighters in Precision Airstrike in Timbuktu Triangle
Troops Foil Kidnap Attempt, Rescue Four Minors in Plateau
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