By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The World Sustainable Development Goals Organisation has rated Africa and Nigeria below average in the actualisation of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The organisation’s African Continental Governor, Yahaya Muhammad, disclosed this at the maiden retreat of the group held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Saturday with the theme: “Sustainable Development in Nigeria”.
Muhammad urged African leaders to accelerate the implementation of the goals across the continent, particularly at the grassroots level, in line with the UN’s 2030 SDGs agenda. He noted that with just five years left before the deadline, there was an urgent need for governments to fast-track development and implementation efforts to position Africa for global relevance.
According to him, Nigeria’s performance is currently below 30 per cent, while Africa as a whole remains at an unimpressive average. He stressed that although numerous NGOs and civil society organisations are complementing government efforts, the continent is yet to record significant progress.
“Mere verbal commitments are no longer enough. African leaders must demonstrate accountability through measurable actions that translate into improved livelihoods, job creation and sustainable development,” he said. “The success of the SDGs in Africa depends on strong political will, adequate funding, and active citizen participation,” he added.
Muhammad further called on African governments, policymakers, civil society groups, and the private sector to work together in driving the 2030 Agenda. He also urged the Nigerian government to overhaul all SDGs units and establish full-fledged departments at municipal and state levels to strengthen implementation.
Highlighting insecurity as a major obstacle, he attributed 70 per cent of the challenges facing Nigeria and Africa to insecurity and poor governance.
Also speaking, Fubes Danor, the group’s Executive Director for Africa, stressed that the next five years would be decisive for the continent. “African nations must move beyond rhetoric and champion the implementation of SDGs. Timely action will determine whether Africa can meet the 2030 targets,” he said.
In his remarks, Aliyu Abubakar, Director of Climate Action Agency–West Africa, identified climate change as one of the greatest threats to Africa’s development, warning that failure to act could erode decades of progress.
The SDGs, adopted in 2015 by all UN member states as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, provide a universal framework to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.
