Buhari says NYSC members will be engaged for SDGs 2030 implementation

President Buhari has said that his government would engage the services of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to champion the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 at the grassroots.

He said the government would also be using 17 SDGs’ ambassadors for the same purpose, The Punch said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement titled “SDGs: Nigeria to mobilise NYSC members, 17 iconic leaders to champion implementation at grassroots, President Buhari tells UN meeting.”

Adesina said the President made the government’s plan known in a video message he sent to the virtual inaugural SDGs Moment, convened by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during the week of the 75th UN General Assembly.

The presidential spokesman said Buhari provided an update on SDGs’ progress in the country, setting out Nigeria’s vision for the next decade in fighting poverty, combating illicit financial flows and ensuring economic recovery amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

He quoted the President as saying that, “Our National Assembly has established Committees on Sustainable Development Goals.

“The National Youth Service Corps Scheme is also ensuring that Nigerian graduates actively participate in SDGs’ implementation processes by serving as SDGs’ champions at the grassroots.

‘’Going forward, we will invigorate the goal achievement process at the grassroots by engaging the services of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals’ ambassadors we appointed to support our efforts at the national level.

“We will also encourage more sub-national authorities to appoint and train SDGs champions.”

Adesina further quoted the President as re-affirming Nigeria’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other internationally agreed development goals.

Buhari was said to have acknowledged that the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic had threatened to derail the progress in achieving SDGs, but added that Nigeria was addressing the threat by re-dedicating efforts towards economic diversification and focusing on agriculture and mining.