By Philip Yatai
Kaduna – The Kaduna State Government on Friday trained officials of its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to improve their capacity to deliver targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr Thomas Gyang, Commissioner, Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), said at the opening of the one-day training in Kaduna that the measure was to remind the MDAs of their expected roles in achieving the SDGs.
Gyang, who was represented by the SDGs Coordinator in the state, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed, said that the training was part of activities to commemorate the 2019 Global Week to Act for the SDGs.
He said that many MDAs had little idea about the roles they were expected to play to accelerate the achievement of the goals in the state.
The commissioner said that each of the goals and targets had been integrated into the activities of relevant MDAs to deliver, describing the training as a wake-up call.
According to him, the training will create the needed awareness on the SDGs and improve the capacity of the MDAs to deliver on their target.
“This is because delivering on the goals and targets requires integration into state development plans, policies and increasing institutional capacity to deliver.
“Kaduna state has since integrated the SDGs into its development plans and therefore, needs effective coordination among the MDAs and partnership with stakeholders for maximum result.
“The central goal is to achieve inclusive economic growth and socio-economic transformation that translate into substantial improvement in the quality of life of Kaduna residents.”
The SDG coordinator, in her own speech, said that the state was witnessing an increase in access to health care facilities by the vulnerable communities and reduction in infant morbidity and mortality rates.
She said that there was equally an improvement in the wellbeing of women and children in the state.
The coordinator said that the state would soon access N250 million from the Federal Government, having paid its N250 million counterpart fund for the 2018 Conditional Grant Scheme project.
Also, Malam Badamasi Musa, Deputy Director, State Planning, PBC, said at the programme that the state government had ensured policy coherence that fostered synergy across economic, social and environment policy areas.
According to him, building the capacity of MDAs to understand their respective roles will ensure sustainable development across all levels. (NAN)
