UNICEF identifies Children, Women and Young people as keys to achieve sustainable development goals
Reporter : Rita Onyekwe
The United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF has identified Children, Women and Young people as the bedrock in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs in 2030. The Officer in charge of UNICEF Enugu Field Office Ms Juliet Chiluwe represented by the Planing and Monitoring Specialist Ms Maureen Okolo stated this during the Third Hybrid International Conference of the Institute of Social Policy held at the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Speaking on the theme of the Conference “Social Development in Sub-Sahara Africa; appraising the commitments, gains and challenges of achieving Social Development through target development goals”, Ms Chiluwe stressed that for social development to be achieved, there must be measurable input on health, education, protection and opportunity in the lives of Children, Women and Young people.
She added that UNICEF social policy that focuses on four interlink pillars which includes child poverty measurements and analysis, social protection system, strengthening public finance management for children and local governance, aligns with the United Nations sustainable goals which place equity, inclusion and human capital at the center of national development strategies. While mentioning some of the areas UNICEF has supported both State and Federal Government, the UNICEF Field Officer explained that it has a strong partnership with the academia.
In his address, the Director Institute of Social Policy University of Nigeria Nsukka Professor Okey Ikeanyibe said the Conference is aimed at providing platform for academia, policy maker, development and social partners, civil society representation, advocacy experts and other stakeholders to produce and share knowledge about pains, commitments, challenges towards realizing the targets of SDGs.
Professor Ikeanyibe expressed hope that the conference would intensify efforts by government and other stakeholders in Sub-Sahara Africa towards the pursuit of social development through target and informed policies. In a welcome address, the Vice Chancellor University of Nigeria Nsukka Professor Simon Ortuanya represented by the Dean of Faculty of Social Science Professor Chidi Nzeadibe thanked UNICEF Officials and the institution for partnering with UNN towards pursuing the goals of filling the Manpower gap. Professor Ortuanya also mentioned some of the challenges facing Sub-Sahara Africa in achieving Sustainable Development and expressed doubt if it could meet the SDGs target for 2030.
He also described the concept of the conference as timely to check what is being achieved, commitment of various stakeholders in pursuing the goals and identifying the challenges which need to be continually reappraised and refocused. The event featured keynote speakers from within and outside the country, question and answer sessions and taking of group photograph. Correspondent Rita Onyekwe reports that participants were drawn from within and outside Enugu State.
