As the Sustainable Development Agenda, SDGs, take effect on 1st January, 2016, the Federal Government has commenced the process for the development of a national strategy for transition to the SDGs from the current Millennium Development Goals, MDGs framework. The Director/Secretary of Programme, in the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, OSSAP-MDGs, Ochapa Ogenyi made this known at a stakeholders’ validation workshop on the national strategy for transitioning to the SDGs held in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to Ogenyi, with the adoption of the successor framework at the recently concluded 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, Nigeria must immediately hit the ground running from 1st January, 2016 unlike the MDGs whose implementation was delayed for six years.
“As the SDGs take effect on 1st January, 2016, it is now time for action and implementation. This time around all hands have to be on deck to ensure early and smooth transition to the SDGs. With your collective support, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs) stands ready to mainstream the SDGs in Nigeria. In this regard, we have undertaken a number of activities to ensure effective transition.” Ogenyi stated.

Ogenyi added that, the national Strategy document, which was considered at the session will clearly stipulate the essential elements for effective transition as well as outline the required enabling Policy, Legal, Funding, Capacity Mechanisms and Pathways for effective implementation of the new development agenda.

“In collaboration with our development partners and a team of experts, our Office organized a retreat last week to develop a clear national strategy document for transition to the SDGs. The draft strategy document which is before you today looks at the essential elements for effective transition which includes: Enabling Policy and Legal Framework, Institutions and Institutional Arrangements for the SDGs, Funding Mechanisms and Pathways, Capacity Building and Mainstreaming of the SDGs at the sub-national levels, Renewed and Smart Partnerships for SDGs, and Data generation, monitoring, reporting and accountability.” Ogenyi stated.

The draft strategy document was considered by stakeholders drawn from the International Development Partners, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDGs, State Focal Persons, the MDGs Task Team Leaders, Civil Society Organizations, NGOs and the media.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Regional Coordinator, Africa of United Nations Millennium Campaign, UNMC, Hilary Ogbonna stated that there is need for putting in place appropriate Institutional, Communication and Stakeholders’ Mobilisation, Legal, Programmatic and Financing Measures. He maintained that it is essential to mainstream the SDGs in the National Development Plan. “We cannot have a National Development Plan that does not recognise the SDGs. The government will be short changing itself and the people.” Ogbonna stated.

Ogbonna, who opined that the SDGs are very broad and cover almost every economic, social and environment aspects of sustainable development, posited that early implementation of the post 2015 agenda will be key to achieving success with multi-sectoral plans and strategies; innovative programs, sustained financing and focus on results.

To achieve sustainable financing, Ogbonna stated: “Early determination of costs at federal and state levels, deployment of traditional, new and innovative sources of financing, continuation of the utilisation of the Debt Relief Gains with the identification of additional funding channels to ensure sustainable financing, addressing corruption and mismanagement of resources are very essential.”