By Philip Yatai
Kaduna – The Kaduna State Government has restated its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The government also welcome innovative ideas from the youth to accelerate the attainment of the goals in the state.
Chief of Staff to Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, Muhammad Abdullahi, stated this in Kaduna on Thursday, at a youth dialogue organised by the SDGs Project Support Unit, Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission.
The dialogue entitled, ‘Developing a Roadmap to Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Building on the UN Strategy for Youth’, was part of activities to commemorate the 2019 Global Week to Act for the SDGs.
Abdullahi, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Policy, Mr Abdullahi Shagari, said that the state government had over the years shown clear and verifiable dedication to youth development and empowerment.
He pointed out that every goal in the SDGs brings relief and opportunity closer to the youth and challenged the youth to come up with innovative ideas that would support the government to move the society forward.
“We are looking forward to having youth that will take the bull by the horn, push for reforms and demand that the government delivers on key goals that will better the lives of the people.
“As youth, this will show how ready we are for the leadership role that will give us the opportunities to make our lives, the lives of our children and the future of our nation something to look forward to.
“We are no longer the leaders of tomorrow; we are the leaders of today, but only if we take the lead ourselves, because it will not be given to us.
“We also need to be aware that development does not come by chance, we have to work for it,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Thomas Gyang, Commissioner, Planning and Budget Commission, said that the state had integrated the 17 goals into the its Development Plan, 2016 – 2020, and in other policies and programmes.
Gyang, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the commission, Malam Mahmoud Yamusa, said that the dialogue would bring every one up to speed and contribute toward achieving the SDGs in the state.
He said that the dialogue was specifically organised to spark the interest of the youth on sustainable development and motivate them to be committed advocates of the SDGs in the state.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator, Young African Leaders Initiative, Mr Jonah Yahaya, noted that the youth have the energy, the innovation and the drive to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in the state.
“But we can only achieve this if we have access to resources, positively engaged and supported to bring our ideas and innovation to reality.
“All we are asking is for the private sector to harvest the ideas and innovations of the youth and the government to provide the enabling environment that would bring to light the creativity of the youth.
“This will enable us to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the state,” Yahaya said.
The coordinator of the SDGs in the state, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed, said that the commission had on Monday began a week-long sensitisation campaign on the SDGs.
She said that the move was part of efforts to leave no one behind in the global campaign for sustainable development.