The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, weekend, advocated for a synergy and collaboration with relevant stakeholders towards attaining the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations since 2015.
Akpabio disclosed this at Awka, Anambra State, during the Southeast regional summit on SDG organised by Nnamdi Azikiwe University Centre for Sustainable Development in collaboration with United Nations in Nigeria, where he was equally honoured with an award for promoting SDGs.
The former governor of Akwa-Ibom state, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, argued that the government, including politicians, individuals, non-governmental organisations, community leaders and others should pull resources together to ensure that the goals were met at a record time.
According to him, this requires dialogue, political will, critical thinking, and sincerity because addressing the gaols would be not only help to address the problems of poverty, insecurity, climate change, and others but will speed up development especially in developing world.
He reassured the support of the 10th Senate to programmes, policies and actions geared towards realisations of the SDG through lawmaking and oversight functions in areas of education, water, food, security and others.
Other speakers, including the Zimbabwean activist, Ms Inviolata Chinyangara; the former vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo Ebonyi State, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba; and Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state represented by his deputy, Mrs Patricia Obila; hinted on the needs to carry women, youth and students along in the implementation of SDG as well.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone, explained that the summit with the theme, Sustainable Development Goals: challenges and prospects, will be an annual event aimed at reinforcing stakeholders and governance structures to address existing and new SDGs challenges towards formulation of a pact that would assist in advancing it attainment by the year 2030.
