As Nigeria prepares for its third Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stakeholders from the South-East geopolitical zone have convened in Enugu to assess the region’s progress and identify strategies for accelerating implementation.
The South-East Regional Consultation on Nigeria’s 2025 VNR, organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, provided a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and strategic planning. Participants reviewed achievements, challenges, and opportunities in advancing the SDGs at both state and regional levels.
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A statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the office informed that speaking at the event, Enugu State Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, highlighted the importance of inclusive development in driving SDG progress.
“The SDGs are a call to action for every region, community, and individual. The South-East, with its strong human capital, entrepreneurial spirit, and resilience, has a crucial role to play in accelerating SDG implementation in Nigeria,” Onyia stated.
While acknowledging improvements in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, he urged stakeholders to prioritise marginalised communities and embrace bold, innovative solutions to ensure meaningful impact.
Delivering the keynote address, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, represented by Dr Ifeyinwa Ukaegbu, Head of the Conditional Grant Scheme, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Effective VNRs rely on inclusive, broad-based, and participatory processes. That is why we are engaging diverse stakeholders across Nigeria to ensure a ‘whole-of-government and society’ approach to SDG implementation,” she noted.
She further emphasized that Nigeria’s 2025 VNR aligns with global commitments, particularly following the adoption of the Pact for the Future at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024, which calls for accelerated and transformative action on the SDGs.
Dr Babatunde Ipaye, Lead Consultant for Nigeria’s 2025 VNR, stressed the importance of collaboration in developing actionable insights for sustainable development. Similarly, Enugu State’s SDG Focal Person, Engineer Onyinye Akubuilo, commended the state government’s policies for facilitating effective SDG implementation.
The consultation, themed “Advancing Sustainable, Inclusive, Science and Evidence-Based Solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Its Sustainable Development Goals for Leaving No One Behind,” brought together government officials, academics, youth groups, civil society organisations, and persons with disabilities from across the South-East.
The insights gathered will contribute to shaping Nigeria’s 2025 VNR, ensuring that efforts to achieve the SDGs remain inclusive, data-driven, and impactful in improving the lives of all Nigerians.
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