The training which is the second edition is a three -day
event holding in Abuja is aimed at training corps members who will in turn
train others for the effective implementation of the SDGs, especially at the
grassroots.
The workshop is tagged Train-The-Trainer Workshop for
Facilitators and Schedule Officers of the NYSC-SDGs Champions.
In her keynote address, the SSAP-SDG, Princess Adejoke
Orelope-Adefulire, said the implementation of the SDGs was centred on capacity
building, technology, adequate financing, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
According to her, trainings on youth engagement,
particularly at the local communities cannot be overemphasized as the local
government is pivotal to the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria.
“It is the closest tier to the people and as such, the only
tier of government that can feasibly understand, monitor and react to the
millions of activities that will collectively add up to the achievement of the
SDGs in Nigeria.
“Youth engagement at the grassroots has been identified as a
critical success strategy to the effective implementation of the SDGs
implementation.
“The youths can develop and focus on innovative community
engagement mechanisms to ensure that citizens are actively participating in the
SDGs through Programme design, implementation, evaluation and reporting among
others.
“Essentially, we must train and equip our young Champions
who are key partners in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable
development,” Adefulire said.
She added that the NYSC-SDGs Champions must seize the
opportunities provided to them and utilize them optimally by taking deliberate
actions that translate to productive employment for their financial security
and sustainable economic growth and development.
Brig.-Gen.Mohammed Fadah, Director-General, NYSC, pledged
his support for the programme in line with policy thrust of the NYSC.
“Management under my administration would promote the
NYSC-SDGs and other viable programmes that that will support the government and
Non-governmental Organisations in addressing various challenges confronting the
nation’s developmental efforts.
“In doing this we shall harness the talents of our corps
members to galvanise the populace into becoming informed participants in the
process of attaining inclusive and sustainable national development.
“In essence, our corps members shall be the vehicle which
drives the process of bridging the information gap between policies and
programmes implementation.,” Fadah said.
He, therefore, urged the corps members to take the training
seriously to update their knowledge in development issues especially SDG
projects.
He was represented by Director, CDS NYSC, Alhaji Abdulrazak
Salawu,
In his remarks, Mr Ahmad Kawu, the Secretary of Programmes,
(SOP) SDGs said it was commitment of the OSSAP to localise the SDGs in Nigeria,
that brought about the training.
“The Training of the Trainer (ToT) is an imperative tool in
strengthening capacities for SDGs implementation at the grassroots in Nigeria.
“COVID-19 Pandemic has affected all spheres of our lives. As
we are gradually recovery from its socio-economic impact, there is no better
time than now to strengthen multi-stakeholders’ engagement to enable us reclaim
lost grounds and explore new ways of accelerating action on the SDGs.
“Specifically, this workshop is aimed at building the
capacity of the NYSC Schedule Officers and SDGs Development Knowledge
Facilitators to enable them to train and recruit the NYSC-SDGs Champions in
driving the process of localising the SDGs.
“By translating them into concrete actions through advocacy
and meaningful engagement in the 774 local government areas of the country
catalyse development initiatives at the community level through stakeholders
‘buy-in, ownership and active participation in our local communities.
“Develop innovative and sustainable strategies in mobilizing
partnerships and local financing for the SDGs among other objectives,” Kawu
said.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire, was presented with an award for
outstanding stakeholder contributions, by the Director-General of NYSC, as
represented by the Director of Community Development Service, NYSC during the
opening of the workshop.
Still speaking on the objectives of the training, Mrs Uforma
Dick, Deputy Director, NYSC said the expectations of the workshop include to
explore new ways of accelerating action on the 17 goals to increase
effectiveness and efficiency of action.
“By targeting multiple SDGs for proper tracing of progress
and reporting of the SDGs, as well as building synergies among State and
NonState actors.
“To get updates on how to localise the SDGs using advocacy
and awareness creation to secure the wellbeing of people, economies, societies
and our planet.
”To understand implementation strategies for realization of
the decade of action using Innovation and digital skills.
“Proffer practical solutions to challenges limiting the
realization of the SDGs. Refresh the minds of the participants on the existing
solutions and emerging issues.
“Build consensus and understanding among team leaders on the
training packages and contents for uniformity,
develop realistic strategies for effective and sustained
service delivery during orientation seminar.”
Princess Orelope-Adefulire, was presented with an award for
outstanding stakeholder contributions, by the Director-General of NYSC, as
represented by the Director of Community Development Service, NYSC during the
opening of the workshop.
Receiving the award, the SSAP-SDGs thanked the NYSC
leadership for the exceptional commitment to fostering unity in Nigeria, as
well as for efforts in youth empowerment in accelerating the achievement of the
SDGs in Nigeria.
The programme ‘NYSC-SDGs Champions’ was launched on Feb. 13,
2017 by the OSSAP-SDGs in collaboration with the NYSC as a continuation of the
NYSC-MDGs project.
NAN also reports that 43 Development Knowledge Facilitators
(DKFs); 37 NYSC Schedules Officers from the 36 States and the FCT; and selected
Officers from the NYSC Directorate Headquarters and the Policy and Strategy
Unit (PSU) of OSSA-SDGs are the resource persons for the training.