More than 190 world leaders who gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York are engaged in debates on how to ensure a better and sustainable world for all mankind, with focus on the new proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Abimbola Akosile, who was there, reports
New Devt Agenda
World leaders, heads of global financial institutions and other dignitaries have unanimously adopted a bold new global agenda to end poverty by 2030 and pursue a sustainable future for all the people of the world.
World leaders, heads of global financial institutions and other dignitaries have unanimously adopted a bold new global agenda to end poverty by 2030 and pursue a sustainable future for all the people of the world.
The historic adoption of the new Sustainable Development Agenda, with 17 global goals at its core, by the 193 Member States of the United Nations (UN) at the start of a three-day summit on September 25 was met with a thunderous standing ovation from delegations that included many of the more than 150 world leaders who will be addressing the summit.
The long-awaited landmark new framework, tagged Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, composed of 17 goals and 169 targets to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate over the next 15 years, aims to end poverty and build a life of dignity for all, leaving no one behind.
The long-awaited landmark new framework, tagged Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, composed of 17 goals and 169 targets to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate over the next 15 years, aims to end poverty and build a life of dignity for all, leaving no one behind.
The new SDGs build on the goal-setting agendas of UN conferences and the widely successful MDGs that have improved the lives of millions of people. The new agenda recognises that the world is facing immense challenges, ranging from widespread poverty, rising inequalities and enormous disparities of opportunity, wealth and power to environmental degradation and the risks posed by climate change.
Narrowing the Gap
In his welcome remarks to declare the recent three-day summit open, UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon called for a narrowing of the gap between "the world we live in and the world we want".
Ban also advocated for the poor peoples of the world to be primary decision makers at every stage. He said the people should be able to hold their governments accountable for their action in individual mechanisms, adding that inequality is largely the direct result of discrimination and gender imbalance.
In his welcome remarks to declare the recent three-day summit open, UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon called for a narrowing of the gap between "the world we live in and the world we want".
Ban also advocated for the poor peoples of the world to be primary decision makers at every stage. He said the people should be able to hold their governments accountable for their action in individual mechanisms, adding that inequality is largely the direct result of discrimination and gender imbalance.
Papal Advice
Also addressing the General Assembly at the UN Headquarters, Pope Francis spoke at length on a variety of global issues and urged leaders to make decisions in the face of conflict and environmental mismanagement.
“The present time invites us to give priority to actions which generate new processes in society, so as to bear fruit in significant and positive historical events. We cannot permit ourselves to postpone ‘certain agendas’ for the future,” said Pope Francis.
“The future demands of us critical and global decisions in the face of world-wide conflicts which increase the number of the excluded and those in need,” he declared.
Also addressing the General Assembly at the UN Headquarters, Pope Francis spoke at length on a variety of global issues and urged leaders to make decisions in the face of conflict and environmental mismanagement.
“The present time invites us to give priority to actions which generate new processes in society, so as to bear fruit in significant and positive historical events. We cannot permit ourselves to postpone ‘certain agendas’ for the future,” said Pope Francis.
“The future demands of us critical and global decisions in the face of world-wide conflicts which increase the number of the excluded and those in need,” he declared.
Polio-free Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed a recent announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that polio was no longer endemic in Nigeria even as he directed government agencies to ensure that the virus never resurfaces in Nigeria.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said the president was delighted by the announcement which followed the absence of any case of the wild polio virus in Nigeria since July 24, 2014.
President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed a recent announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that polio was no longer endemic in Nigeria even as he directed government agencies to ensure that the virus never resurfaces in Nigeria.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said the president was delighted by the announcement which followed the absence of any case of the wild polio virus in Nigeria since July 24, 2014.
The president applauded the concerted efforts of government officials, health workers, volunteer groups, civil society, religious leaders, traditional rulers and international partners which resulted in the historic achievement.
While joining other Nigerians and the global community in celebrating Nigeria's removal from the list of polio-endemic countries, Buhari urged continued vigilance to ensure that Nigeria maintained this new status.
Consequently, the president directed all government ministries, departments and agencies involved in the polio eradication effort to remain proactively engaged and on guard against the re-emergence of the polio virus in Nigeria.
While joining other Nigerians and the global community in celebrating Nigeria's removal from the list of polio-endemic countries, Buhari urged continued vigilance to ensure that Nigeria maintained this new status.
Consequently, the president directed all government ministries, departments and agencies involved in the polio eradication effort to remain proactively engaged and on guard against the re-emergence of the polio virus in Nigeria.
$25bn in Commitments
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced over $25 billion in initial commitments spanning five years to help end preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents, and ensure their health and well-being.
Heads of State and Government, international organisations, the private sector, foundations, civil society, research and academic institutions, and other key partners joined the event during the UN Summit for the adoption of the sustainable development agenda to pledge their support to the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.
With ambitious yet achievable targets and fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Strategy offers a roadmap to end all preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents, and ensure that they not only survive, but also thrive and transform the world.
The commitments announced are expected to grow significantly in the coming years, and include new policies and groundbreaking partnerships from 40 countries and over 100 international organisations, philanthropic foundations, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector.
Pledges include contributions from the United States ($3.3 billion), Canada ($2.6 billion), Sweden ($2.5 billion), Germany ($1.3 billion), Norway ($420 million), Netherlands ($326 million) and Korea ($300 million) among other donor countries.
The amount pledged so far also includes an estimated $6 billion of in-kind contributions, as well as commitments to the Global Financing Facility in support of Every Woman Every Child, launched during the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, in Addis Ababa in July.
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced over $25 billion in initial commitments spanning five years to help end preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents, and ensure their health and well-being.
Heads of State and Government, international organisations, the private sector, foundations, civil society, research and academic institutions, and other key partners joined the event during the UN Summit for the adoption of the sustainable development agenda to pledge their support to the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.
With ambitious yet achievable targets and fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Strategy offers a roadmap to end all preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents, and ensure that they not only survive, but also thrive and transform the world.
The commitments announced are expected to grow significantly in the coming years, and include new policies and groundbreaking partnerships from 40 countries and over 100 international organisations, philanthropic foundations, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector.
Pledges include contributions from the United States ($3.3 billion), Canada ($2.6 billion), Sweden ($2.5 billion), Germany ($1.3 billion), Norway ($420 million), Netherlands ($326 million) and Korea ($300 million) among other donor countries.
The amount pledged so far also includes an estimated $6 billion of in-kind contributions, as well as commitments to the Global Financing Facility in support of Every Woman Every Child, launched during the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, in Addis Ababa in July.
Private Sector Input
Also, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has pledged the commitment of the private sector in ensuring that the SDGs are implementable. Elumelu told journalists at the launch of the SDGs in New York that the private sector “must be at the forefront in driving the success of the goals.”
Also, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has pledged the commitment of the private sector in ensuring that the SDGs are implementable. Elumelu told journalists at the launch of the SDGs in New York that the private sector “must be at the forefront in driving the success of the goals.”
According to him, given the broad scope of SDGs where power, electricity and infrastructure are key components, the private sector will create the platform and tools required to ensure that the SDGS agenda works.
Elumelu who was instrumental in formulating the African inputs to the SDGs contended that the composition of the goals lays a workable foundation that will practically tackle poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Elumelu who was instrumental in formulating the African inputs to the SDGs contended that the composition of the goals lays a workable foundation that will practically tackle poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Lake Chad Alarm
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has drawn global attention to the rapidly shrinking status of Lake Chad in West and Central Africa, warning that the lake on which around five million individuals depend may cease to exist in 30 years if urgent efforts are not taken to forestall the decline in water level.
The Special United Nations envoy who is a member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), a group of ten distinguished individuals who advocate at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa, spoke at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York.
He made the calls at a meeting on the sidelines of the summit, tagged ‘Curbing the threat of Boko Haram and building stability in affected countries: A long-term strategy in building community resilience, particularly of women, adolescent girls and young people’, which was coordinated the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and anchored by the Executive Director of the agency, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin.
“Lake Chad is today only 10 per cent of what it used to be years ago, and if nothing is done, 30 years from now, there may not be a drop of water in the lake. More than 1.5 million people depend directly on the lake and around five million people depend on it indirectly”, he said.
Refuting Absenteeism Claims
President Muhammadu Buhari has debunked claims that his delegation to the 70th UN General Assembly missed out at an important event where modalities to get help for displaced persons were discussed.
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu said the meeting in question was not one of the officials meeting the president was due to attend at the UN.
Shehu said Nigeria was represented at an important side event devoted to the North-East called by the UN Population Fund, UNFPA on “Building Stability and Resilience in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Countries.”
He said the president was fully conscious of his responsibility to Nigeria and would accept nothing short of the best for Nigerians in the meetings taking place in and around the United Nations.
He said the president was fully conscious of his responsibility to Nigeria and would accept nothing short of the best for Nigerians in the meetings taking place in and around the United Nations.
Call to Action
WaterAid Nigeria has urged leaders around the world to deliver on the new UN Global Goals and leave no one behind.
Global Goal 6 commits UN member-states to delivering access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene to everyone, everywhere by 2030. The inclusion of this goal is a victory for more than 650 million people in the world today without access to clean water and 2.3 billion people without access to safe, private toilets, the agency noted.
WaterAid Nigeria has urged leaders around the world to deliver on the new UN Global Goals and leave no one behind.
Global Goal 6 commits UN member-states to delivering access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene to everyone, everywhere by 2030. The inclusion of this goal is a victory for more than 650 million people in the world today without access to clean water and 2.3 billion people without access to safe, private toilets, the agency noted.
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