100 Days of SDGs event report

Abuja Nigeria; April 08, 2016
100 Days of SDGs
DEAN Initiative gathered her 35 Youth Global Goals Ambassadors drawn from 100 youth-led NGOs in Nigeria that over the past one year has actively participated in the pre SDGs adoption campaign activities and its post adoption advocacy projects under the DEAN Initiative’s project; Nigeria SDGs Youth Network. The 35 Global Goals youth ambassadors gathered in Abuja Nigeria to commemorate the 100 days of SDGs implementation agenda in line with global civil society alliances on SDGs advocacy projects.



DEAN Initiative partnered Connected Development and SDGs Children with support from SMG Crew to host this event. “Nigeria cannot afford to start the implementation of the Global Goals” were the opening words of Semiye Michael: Project Coordinator of DEAN Initiative. While welcoming the participants who traveled long distances for the service of their father land, Semiye further refreshed the memory of the ambassadors of the journey so far; the My World Survey participation, the massive awareness campaign on and off – line, the Youth physical Meet – Up, the 1000 Man Walk for SDGs, the SDGs Civic Leadership trainings and now the 100 Days of SDGs. He said, for once, Nigeria must teach the World a new lesson of success through robust SDGs implementation strategies that must be implemented to the letter.

The keynote speaker; Mr. Edwin Ikhuoria, ONE Campaign country Rep to Nigeria reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to lead strategic campaigns that will ensure all stakeholders play their roles due them for early and quality implementation of the Goals. He warned the young people against the habit of trading their rights and that of their communities through collection of bribe from political office holders. Such acts he said are responsible for where the country seats today; back seat in development. He supported his speech with thought provoking statistics especially from the Health sector.
Mr. Hamzat Lawal; CEO of CODE spoke on how young people can through accurate data ask valid questions about these set of goals and through that make government run with the implementation plans.

The session was designed for the Global Goals ambassadors to learn, interact and develop innovative ideas that can be submitted to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs as part of our partnership support and contribution to Nigeria and the current administration towards a successful implementation of the SDGs.