SDG: Why 9,000 youths, Sanwo-olu ally to make Lagos livelier
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No fewer than 9,000 youths across communities in Lagos State have volunteered to help the Lagos State Government implement the 17 sustainable development goals to make Lagos State a better and livelier place for all.
Their leaders- Nollywood star, Jim Iyke, a musician, Florence Otedola (DJ Cuppy) and Yoruba film actress, Jumoke Odetola- met Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu Friday to formally launch the alliance.
The Governor gave them his word: “What we are about is to see how we can bring SDGs champions and society influencers in our various communities together on platform for measurable impacts. We strongly believe the Government cannot do it by itself. We don’t have the reach and connection which you advocates have…When we took the decision to set up this alliance, we wanted to create a partnership through which we can have real conversations and engagement that can improve lives.
The objective around the alliance is to use the SDGs as a springboard for real development. There is no way we can talk about the future if young people are not in the conversation. I thank the youth advocates and various influencers for accepting to work with us on this alliance. By working with the Government, the interventions can reach a lot of people quicker and faster.”
The future is here and our young people have been given the seat to lead interventions across the SDGs, while the Government plays a supportive role. We want to see how we can turn efforts from this initiative into greater impact in multiple folds.”
He thanked “great minds”, for accepting to work with his administration to meet the SDGs and urged the youths to turn the collaborative effort to a life-changing platform, saying the initiative would be a success story if it directly touched lives of the vulnerable people.
Nollywood actor Jim Iyke said he was excited by the willingness of the Governor to allow the youths drive the alliance.
Also, Odetola promised to use her Nollywood platform to promote actions in the areas of mental health, substance abuse and gender equality.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs and Investment, Ms. Solape Hammond, said the alliance emerged from the conviction that the youth demographic represented a potent force to drive positive impacts.
She said the Sanwo-Olu administration embodied progressive collaboration and engagement, expressing hope that the alliance would achieve its objectives.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SDGs, Lekan Fatodu,lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu and the SDG champions
while presenting the SDGs champions to Sanwo-Olu, said: “Many of the young people we have on the alliance are most active advocates in physical and digital spaces. They have expressed their interest in sustaining the engagement with the Government to deepen trust and confidence.”
