The Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) launched the Youth SDGs Spotlight Compendium virtually on the 19th of September 2023 to celebrate the ingenuity and resilience of young Nigerians working tirelessly to localize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.
According to Joshua Alade, NGYouthSDGs’ Executive Director, “it has been eight years since the launch of the SDGs and we have less than 7 years to meet the targets with the compendium being an avenue to showcase and strengthen youth leadership for the SDGs.” He urged the participants to explore the Youth SDGs Spotlight compendium online via , share its contents within their network, and consider how they can adapt similar approaches on their own.
The Director of the United Nations Information Center in Nigeria, Mr Ronald Kayanjar stated his excitement on the involvement of youth in the SDGs. According to him, in spite of having 15 percent of the SDGs being achieved, we have had more meaningful engagement of young people as actors in achieving the SDGs. He added that like never before, the SDGs have deployed the energies of young people for actions towards a better world.
He further urged young people to focus their innovations more on technology as this is needed to move the country forward. He urged young Africans not to be like the generations of their parents, always pitying themselves and looking to others for the development of their society, as they have what it takes to shape the country positively. He concluded by encouraging Nigerians not to be beggars of this world but solutions to problems.
Mr Princewill Ogbodo, the Project coordinator of Work in Progress at OXFAM in Nigeria while unveiling the stories of the SDGs Spotlight, said the inspiring stories in the compendium is a testament to the determination of the Nigerian Youth who refuse to accept the status quo but forge their own part in creating a brighter future for themselves. According to him, these young leaders have championed courses in Education, Environmental sustainability and others.
The panel session, moderated by Paul Eweola, featured two panelists: Onyinye Omenugha, founder of LAWSANAID, and Elona Erezi, a senior program analyst at Syndai Group. They discussed the importance of youth engagement in driving the SDGs and shared their efforts in promoting positive change through their organizations. Afterward, a Youth Led Showcase was presented by Abigael Anaza Mark an education and gender equality professional, Abdulbasit Bashir, the founder of Revnics Energy, Chioma Ukpabi, a social entrepreneur and change maker and Peace Kpada Danson who is a Digital literacy tutor and climate champion. They shared what has inspired them to take action and their contributions to sustainable development in Nigeria. The event emphasized the value of collaboration and knowledge-sharing for advancing the SDGs and concluded with closing remarks by Joshua Alade, expressing gratitude to everyone who made the Youth SDGs Spotlight Compendium launch a success.
The launch was made possible with support from Oxfam in Nigeria and Action for Sustainable Development.
You can watch the launch event below
