In a renewed drive to fast-track inclusive and sustainable development, the Lagos State Government has deepened its commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by convening a high-level Breakfast Meeting aimed at fostering strategic partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event, themed \u201cAccelerating SDGs Through Strategic Partnerships,\u201d was held at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, and organized by the Office of Sustainable Development Goals. It drew participation from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including diplomats, development partners, private sector leaders, civil society representatives, and senior government officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Delivering the keynote address, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat\u2014represented by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule\u2014underscored the centrality of partnerships in achieving the SDGs. He noted that the state had strategically aligned its THEMES+ Agenda with the SDGs, prioritizing social inclusion, gender equality, youth empowerment, and sustainable infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLagos is building a resilient and sustainable city where no one is left behind,\u201d the Deputy Governor stated. \u201cOur THEMES+ Agenda integrates key SDG pillars\u2014education, the green economy, digital innovation, and transportation\u2014to deliver long-lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He highlighted notable milestones, including the completion of the Blue Line Rail project, progress on the Red Line, and technology-driven reforms in education. He also stressed the need for a collective approach, describing the SDGs as a shared responsibility beyond government mandates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe must foster synergy among academia, civil society, the private sector, and international development agencies. It is time to mobilize blended financing, leverage innovation, and empower grassroots change-makers to turn bold ideas into scalable impact,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also addressing the gathering, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, commended Lagos State\u2019s efforts in mainstreaming the SDGs into its policies and institutional frameworks. She acknowledged Nigeria\u2019s national progress in poverty reduction, education, and gender equality but noted that global disruptions\u2014such as the COVID-19 pandemic, insurgency, and geopolitical conflicts\u2014had slowed overall progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese challenges have stretched resources and disrupted vital systems. Without intensified collaboration and investment, achieving the SDGs by 2030 will remain elusive,\u201d she cautioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orelope-Adefulire announced that Nigeria would present its third Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations in New York this July\u2014an exercise that reflects the country\u2019s commitment to localized, data-driven solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLagos has become a model for subnational implementation of the SDGs,\u201d she said. \u201cIts use of data, innovation, and inclusive partnerships offers a clear benchmark for impact at scale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, described the meeting as a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration, and co-creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have moved beyond conversation into co-creation\u2014developing programs that are changing lives across Lagos,\u201d she said. \u201cOur office remains committed to being a convener, connector, and catalyst for sustainable development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She emphasized the importance of shared responsibility, adaptive planning, and systems thinking in scaling development interventions across sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLagos offers a unique opportunity to align global ambitions with local realities. With intentionality and collective resolve, we must translate our commitments into real impact\u2014through improved healthcare access, inclusive education, job creation, climate resilience, and gender equity,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A key highlight of the meeting was the collective pledge made by stakeholders to support Lagos State\u2019s drive toward accelerating the implementation of the SDGs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Present at the event were members of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Director-Generals and General Managers of MDAs, Consular Generals, development partners, representatives from the private sector, academia, and philanthropic organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gathering marked another bold step in Lagos State\u2019s effort to institutionalize sustainable governance and build inclusive partnerships for lasting development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a renewed drive to fast-track inclusive and sustainable development, the Lagos State Government has deepened its commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by convening a high-level Breakfast Meeting aimed at fostering strategic partnerships. The event, themed \u201cAccelerating SDGs Through Strategic Partnerships,\u201d was held at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, and organized…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t