UNGA: Development partners explore financing options for Implementation of SDG in Nigeria

By Cross Udo, Abuja

Stakeholders, including key development partners in Nigeria and the African continent at the weekend, held a high-level Global Executive Investment and Grants Intervention Roundtable on the financing options for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.

The programme, which was held on the margins of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, at the Nigerian Mission House, New York, was organised by Merited Negotiating Consulting firm in conjunction with Strategic Groups, United States of America (USA), a limited liability company (LLC).

The programme is taking advantage of the presence of Heads of State and Government, country delegations to UNGA, development partners, and top executives of leading international institutions and multilateral development banks to engage with African Government Officials and Business Executives for the envisaged partnerships.

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Participants deliberated on funding options for meeting the targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

The meeting’s thrust was on ways to generate resources for financing the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.

Declaring the event open, Prof Tijjani Muhammad Bande, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, noted that the initiative would provide an enabling environment for substantiated investors.

Bande, who appreciated the organiser, particularly the investors and the US government officials for providing an enabling environment for substantiated investors, also used the opportunity to explain the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, a former Congressman, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, as well as Chairman, of the Asia Pacific Sub-Committee, Hon. Ted Scott Yoho, stated that investors are ready to invest in Nigeria because the country’s huge opportunities and high level of human capital development indexes.

He further explained that Nigeria needs to tap into global intervention grants.

On his part, Prof Dave Brat, another ex-Congressman and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Forum, USA, said he was ready to partner with Merited Negotiating Consulting Firm to source various investments in “Agriculture, Mining, Marine, Aviation, Renewable Energy, and Human Capital Developments.”

Brat, who was the Congress Chairman of the Budget and Education Committee and Vice-President of Engagements and Public Relations at Liberty University, Chairman, said he is ready to partner with Merited Negotiating Consulting Firm and Strategic Group USA LLC to source various investment opportunities.

The Executive Vice-Chairman, Merited Negotiating Kunle Yusuff, on a Zoom call with journalists, said the event has opened various business opportunities and access to intervention grants for governments and private investors.

He also said the programme aimed at galvanising developmental partners and donor agencies for projects and programmes funding for Non- Government Organisations in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the CEO of Strategic Groups USA LCC, said for many years, he had been searching for an opportunity to bring serious investors who are interested in investing in Nigeria together.

While describing the event as a dream come through, he thanked Kunle Yusuff, for initiating such an event which has become a yearly programme.

The strategic meeting was attended by many investors from various countries, Kanti Pandya, President, Satnaam Development and Contracting Group SDCG LLC, Simon Vandi, Managing Partner, Manhattan Global Investments, Stanley Straughter, and Board Chairman, African- America- Caribbean Business Council, Dr. Vincent OgoChukwu Okpala.

Others were CEO, Green Yelwa, Dr Lorie Khatod, Global Strategic Legislative Consultant, Mark Harris, CEO of Business Advisors 360, Maria Fox, CEO of Synergistic Media Development, Otunba Dele Kelvin Oye, The President of the National Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Mrs Chiu Lin Wang, CEO, Phoenix Group, Phil Ostrowski, Managing Partner, Manhattan Global Investments and State Delegations from Delta and Zamfara State.