Background
The World Leaders present at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, took a historic step when they adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development envisions a present and a future that is economically sustainable, socially inclusive and environmentally resilient. This is expressed in the framing of the 17 SDGs, 169 targets and 230 key performance indicators.
Nigeria is a vast West African country of 923,768 km², located in the region bordering the Gulf of Guinea, and the countries of Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Is a member of the United Nations and is the most populous nation in Africa, thus contributing to the fifth-largest number of peacekeepers. It hosts the great rivers of the Niger and Benue with its capital city being Abuja, located in the centre of the nation, while Lagos is the country’s primary seaport, economic hub and largest city. Nigeria is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa, with approximately 250 languages spoken reflecting the magnitude of its different ethnolinguistic groups. Since the adoption of SDGs, Nigeria has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the promise, but more is required of the government and other partners in ensuring that these goals are efficiently and effectively implemented so that resources can be allocated to sectors of the economy that will yield the highest dividend for the poor and the vulnerable millions across the country.
The awareness amongst the public needed to be raised on what these global goals meant in order for people to be proactive with supportive initiatives as well as promoting strategic engagements around the goals.
The Significance of SDGs Knowledge
The Global Goals is the most ambitious agreement for Sustainable Development that world leaders have ever made. It integrates all three aspects of Sustainable Development which include social, economic and environmental. The expectation at the end of the 15 years is for countries to mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, hunger, inequalities and tackle climate changes. But most importantly leaving no one behind.
These goals are not legally binding, but rather a promise made by all countries to each other to work together on a plan, thus, no one can enforce that they are achieved. In this regard, for these goals to be met, everyone, that is, the government, civil society, private sector and the general public needs to do their part. The government is expected to take ownership by establishing a national framework for the achievement of the 17 goals. However, it is the responsibility of each citizen to follow up on the progress made in implementing these goals, and thus, holding the government accountable.
For Nigeria to progress on the road map towards achieving the goal, it is crucial that everyone is aware of and have Knowledge of them because it will;
- Encourage people to take action and contribute to making the world a better place
- Make people take a proactive stance on pertinent issues III. Develop the spirit of volunteerism
- Create interaction between government and the citizens
- Cause developments at the grassroots level because community members will be able to engage relevant stakeholders on the need for responsiveness, accountability and transparency.
- Cause positive rural development because the community will have information on government policies and their inclusion in development planning at the local level.
Solutions on How To Get Nigerians to Contribute to Global Goals Attainment
- Change oriented communication: communication is one of the most important elements of any behavioural or organizational change. The current literature on change offers a significant body of knowledge concerning the importance, role, and functions of communication during change. There are two main types of change communication strategies: participatory and programmatic communication strategies. These two when put into good effect will help in stimulating people’s interests in the SDGs and thereby causing them to be more committed and proactive on the matters of SDGs.
- Traditional rulers: the idea is to communicate to the local office bearers the Importance of the new agender and apprise them of the critical role of their decisions in achieving SDGs.
- Civil Society Organisations can help to carry out campaigns to increase commitment to SDGs by creating public awareness-raising through; concerts; bike rides; campaigning buses; award ceremonies; banners; T-shirts; Publications; and graphic design works on SDGs for illiterate and semi-illiterate members of the community; collaboration with well-known figures e.g actors, musicians, sports people; events showcasing success stories.
- Marginalised community groups should also be targeted. This will cause a change-oriented communication thereby causing them to contribute their ideas and energies.
- Media platforms: All TV Stations, radio stations should create live debates on SDGs issues; they should use their social media platforms to communicate directly to citizens.
- Education: These can be either formal or informal. Formal ways include; Incorporating SDGs into the curriculum; teachers training on SDGs; SDGs educational programmes in schools; direct work with parent-teachers associations. Informal ways include; conferences; youth groups; activities in the libraries and museums; online learning tools.
- The government as the key players should; Carry out public awareness-raising programmes through the provision of capacity building for stakeholders. This will empower them to maximise their contribution even in the face of limited competence; include SDGs n their own policy framework; involve both existing and new platforms; reach out to all sectors of society through traditional and social media; harness the power of culture to make SDGs engaging; include gender-based perspectives; take advantage education; nominate SDGs ambassadors to maximise the project; nominate champions locally and regionally.
- SDGs activities talk series: This can be achieved by bringing young changemakers to the stage, to showcase for decision-makers the ways they are supporting the goals and to inspire others to take action.
- Leveraging the power of entertainment: Entertainment is a powerful tool for awareness-raising especially amongst the female gender and also the children. Cartoon companies can also incorporate SDGs into their films which can serve as an eye-opener for the children.
- The private sector can contribute by; Raising employees’ awareness, ensuring these goals are present with group strategy and communicating about SDGs when publishing reports.
Conclusion
Tackling these new agender with the aim of taking it forward before 2030 requires support from all the citizens, thus, going forward, It is essential that there is awareness-raising, advocacy, implementation and monitoring of the SDGs at all levels in order to harness agendas effectively and avoid confusion, and or gaps in the actions on ground. The invitation therein is for all the levels of government and their associations to freely use every resource to support achieving SDGs. According to Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO” There is no more powerful transformative force than education—to promote human rights and dignity, to eradicate poverty and deepen sustainability, to build a better future for all, founded on equal rights and social justice, respect for cultural diversity, and international solidarity and shared responsibility, all of which are fundamental aspects of our common humanity.”
Therefore, while the International community is assisting us towards achieving SDGs, the national government, civil society organisations and the private sector will all have to join in on working to localise the SDGs across the country.
Dr Josiah Chipper Yohanna is a youth champion with Nigeria Youth SDGs Network
