By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Federal Government has said that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved through isolated programmes but must be carefully integrated into national and sub-national policies and development plans.
This is as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, SSAP-SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has emphasised the need for stakeholders to intensify efforts to achieve the SDGs by 2030 as Nigeria continues regional consultations on the 2025 Voluntary National Review, VNR.
Orelope-Adefulire stated this in her keynote address, delivered on her behalf by Dr Bala Yunusa, Senior Technical Adviser, at the North-East Regional Consultation in Gombe as part of Nigeria’s VNR preparation for the High-Level Political Forum in New York in July 2025.
She noted that world leaders established the high-level political forum, HLPF, on sustainable development through the United Nations Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, as a follow-up and review mechanism for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The presidential aide explained that VNRs are the cornerstone of this review process, adding, “Nigeria is currently undertaking its third VNR, engaging stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones to assess implementation progress, challenges, and prospects.”
In a statement by Desmond Utomwen, her Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication, the SSAP-SDGs stressed the need to reverse the trend and fast-track progress on all the SDGs.
She noted that global SDG progress is mixed, with Nigeria not exempted. Citing the 2024 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Report, she stated, “Lack of progress towards the SDGs is universal, but developing countries and the world’s poorest people bear the brunt.
“Currently, only 17 percent of SDG targets are on track, nearly half show minimal or moderate progress, while over a third have stalled or regressed.
“At the national level, dwindling financial resources, the COVID-19 pandemic, and persistent insecurity have combined to slow down Nigeria’s progress towards achieving the SDGs.”
The statement, “Princess Orelope-Adefulire emphasised that the SDGs cannot be achieved through isolated programmes but must be carefully integrated into national and sub-national policies and development plans.
“Robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER), such as the SDGs Progress reporting and the VNR, are essential. She underscored the need for collaboration across the public and private sectors, the UN Development System, the donor community, academia, and civil society to ensure no one is left behind.”
While referencing the “Pact for the Future,” adopted during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, she noted that through “Pact,” world leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to take “bold, ambitious, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to fast-track the achievement of the SDGs.”
She quoted the UN Secretary-General António Guterres saying, “Massive investment and more effective partnerships are needed to drive critical transitions across food, energy, digital connectivity, and more, unlocking progress across the Goals.
“The 2024 Summit of the Future provides a vital opportunity, paving the way for further breakthroughs at the Financing for Development Conference and World Social Summit in 2025.”
Orelope-Adefulire commended the institutional members of the Multi-Stakeholder Core Working Group for Nigeria’s 2025 VNR for their dedication to organising and guiding the entire VNR process.
“I appreciate and commend members of the Core Working Group from relevant MDAs, the UN Development System, the Private Sector Advisory Group, the Civil Society Strategy Group, and academia. Your commitment is highly valued. The consulting team for this VNR is equally appreciated,” she concluded.
As part of Nigeria’s VNR consultative process, about 150 participants drawn from the six states of the North East were updated on the institutional frameworks for implementing the SDGs, progress on the 17 SDGs, implementation challenges, and lessons learned.
In his welcome address, the Focal Person of the SDGs Project Support Unit in Gombe State, Engr. Sulaiman Turaki described the Regional Consultation as a critical dialogue that will shape Nigeria’s next Voluntary National Review while ensuring that the country’s progress, challenges, and opportunities are accurately reflected and that no one is left behind in the overall development journey.
“This gathering is a testament to our collective commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goal.”
He called on stakeholders to engage actively, share insights, and propose solutions to make a real impact. “Let us embrace this opportunity to drive meaningful change, inspire innovative policies, and accelerate sustainable development efforts across the North-East Zone.” Engr. Turaki stated.
