“Dear young people, just start!”- Rasaq Oguntade 

By Rianat Abosede Wahab

“Dear young people, just start!”- Rasaq Adebayo Oguntade 

Rasaq Adebayo Oguntade is a STEM Educator, farmer and an SDG advocate. He is a recent graduate from the department of Plant Physiology and Crop Production, from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He is an Ambassador and Fellow at MyFarmbase Africa and a member of YALI Network Ogun and NGYouthSDG Ogun.

HOW ARE YOU LOCALIZING THE SDGS IN NIGERIA?
Last year September to be precise I started an advocacy (a media campaign) on localizing SDGs in our communities through the use of our indigenous languages under HIYA Nigeria Ogun State. The media campaign is to draw the attention fellow advocates and SDGs stakeholders to the roles and importance of our indigenous languages in localizing SDGs.

PLEASE TELL US MORE THE MAIN PROJECT YOU ARE WORKING ON
We cannot localize SDGs in our communities without the use of our indigenous languages. I noticed that many of the citizens at our local communities has little or no knowledge at all about the 17 SDGs. The project aims at sensitizing and educating our citizens at the local communities on all the SDGs and how they can participate in it.

HOW IS THE PROJECT ENSURING THAT NIGERIA ACHIEVES THE SDGS BY 2030?
Through the involvement on various stakeholders and individuals.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OR CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT AND WHAT ARE THE SUPPORT YOU NEED?
The major challenges has been getting sponsors. The major supports are resources and materials from SDGs advocates and stakeholders.

YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE

The only advice I have for all youths is that they start anything God has placed in their heart.