How Lagos is Equipping SDG Champions With Data Skills for Better Service Delivery

Kehinde Adeleye

The Lagos State Government has commenced capacity building for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Champions across its institutions, urging them to transform reliable data into practical interventions that can improve public service delivery and accelerate development across the state.

The call was made at the Annual SDGs Champions’ Capacity Building Workshop held at Protea Hotel, CBD, Alausa, Ikeja, with the theme, “From Data to Action: Using Voluntary Local Review to Drive the SDGs.”

The workshop brought together SDG focal officers and other stakeholders from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strengthen their capacity in data collection, analysis, reporting and evidence-based decision-making.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, described reliable data as a critical foundation for effective governance, noting that accurate information enables government to identify development gaps, prioritise interventions and allocate resources based on actual needs.

Finnih said credible data could help government identify challenges in critical sectors such as education, transportation, infrastructure and waste management, while preventing inefficient spending and ensuring that resources are directed towards areas requiring urgent attention.

She acknowledged the financial and institutional resources required to generate reliable data but stressed that the investment was necessary to deliver better outcomes for Lagos residents.

The Special Adviser also highlighted Lagos State’s completion of 2 Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), describing the reports as important tools for assessing the state’s progress towards the SDGs and identifying areas requiring further intervention.

She commended the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, for her support towards advancing SDG implementation.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Kaphayah Olayemi Sarumi, said sustainable development could only be achieved when global goals were translated into practical action at the local and community levels.

Sarumi said Lagos had spent the past 3 years developing institutional structures and systems to support SDG implementation, adding that the priority must now shift towards execution, measurable outcomes and improved impact.

She urged SDG Champions to use data to identify gaps in areas including healthcare, education, gender equality, environmental management and governance, stressing that development policies must reflect the realities experienced by residents.

The Permanent Secretary encouraged participants to strengthen collaboration across MDAs and make effective use of available information to improve planning and public service delivery.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Modupe Ojo, emphasised the importance of data integrity to sustainable development and effective resource allocation.

Ojo challenged participants to consider the long-term impact of the information they collect, particularly in implementing the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) 2052.

She warned that inaccurate data and administrative errors could lead to poor decisions on critical infrastructure and services, including schools, hospitals and roads.

Ojo therefore urged data officers across MDAs to review their reporting processes and templates while maintaining high standards of accuracy and consistency.

She also advocated a human-centred approach to data collection, stressing that government data should ultimately translate into policies and programmes capable of improving the lives of residents.

The workshop provided participants with practical tools for analysing sector-specific data, identifying operational bottlenecks and developing evidence-based responses to development challenges.

Participants were also trained on how to use findings from Voluntary Local Reviews to formulate actionable policy recommendations and address identified gaps.

The state government said the initiative formed part of its broader efforts to strengthen institutional capacity for SDG implementation and embed evidence-based planning, budgeting and service delivery across government.

It added that stronger data systems would improve accountability, enable government to measure the impact of its programmes and support more targeted interventions in education, healthcare, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and governance.

The workshop concluded with a renewed call for SDG Champions to move beyond data collection and reporting by ensuring that reliable information is translated into measurable development outcomes for Lagos residents.