Brain Builders International’s SDGs @100 Days Civic And Advocacy Programme

Accelerated implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Nigeria is one of the strives of the Brain Builders international, which resulted in the organization of a 3-in-1 SDGs @ 100 Days civic and Advocacy programme at the university of Ilorin’s auditorium basement on the 8th of April, 2016. TIJANI, Sheriffdeen Opeyemi reporting from the University of Ilorin, department of Anatomy.

The programme which started around 11am commenced with a press conference, a briefing session from the National co-ordinator Brain Builders International, Mr Olasupo Abideen Opeyemi who stated that the SDGs are the successor goals to the MDGs. He further stated that they were adopted by head of governments and states during the United Nations (UN) High level post-2015 summit which held in September 2015 in New York.

In his speech, he stated that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the year 2000 Millennium summit right from its onset towards achieving the new international development goals have not been drastic and productive enough. He said the consequences of those shortfalls are further aggravated by the combined effects of the global food, climate, energy and economic crisis.

Olasupo asserted that his organisation- the Brain Builders International strongly welcomes the final draft of the post-2015 outcome document as it brings a robust level of ambition and a clear commitment towards universality and integration, as well as positive steps towards inclusion and participation.

Concluding his brilliant presentation, he called on the media to speak about any deviation from governments’ commitment to all the SDGs. Speaking also at the programme, Mr Olalekan Obisesan, a young public speaker and a farmer talked exhaustively on a number of goals of the SDGs, particularly the area of peace, justice and strong institutions, which is the 16th goal of the SDGs. One of the participants of the summit who happens to be the President of the Students’ Union Government of the University of Ilorin, Com. Idris Alao Observation was fast to make it clear that in the MDGs justice wasn’t a part, but its inclusion in the SDGs is shaping out something fine he said.

The special assistant on Media and communication to RT. HON. Abdulrazaq Atunwa, Mr Olawale Rotimi was also one of the facilitators at the summit. He also didn’t fail to do justice to the goals given to him. The spokesman did task the youths on their active participation which will help in procuring more solutions.

Dr Mrs AbdulBaki S.S, HOD of the department of Mass Communication was also present to shed more lights on the issues bothering the SDGs. She talked significantly on female empowerment among many other notable things she discussed. Also in attendance were the Vice President and Public Relations Officer of the SUG as well as President of the Union of Campus Journalists and other notable personalities.