Nigerian Government commends United Nations, Media Information Network for training journalists as critical stakeholders on Sustainable Development Goals

The Nigerian Government has commended the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and Media Awareness and Information For All Network(MAIN) for their commitment to advocacy, sensitization and training of critical stakeholders, especially journalists, on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Penpushing reports that Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals(SDG’s), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire while speaking at the training of journalists held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital expressed her appreciation to the two bodies for facilitating the strategic initiative.

“It is gladdening to have us utilise this platform to engage and reaffirm your contributions as critical stakeholders and partners in advocacy and sensitization for the achievement of the Global Goals and for our national development”, she said

Penpushing further reports that Adefulire explained that the nexus of journalism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) places the media at the core of sustainable development both as contributors and as beneficiaries.

The Special Assistant re-affirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). in Nigeria.

“We urge you to strengthen partnership and collaboration with us, as we continue to advocate for inclusive and sustainable national development in this ‘Decade of Action’ for the SDGs”,she emphasized

Penpushing also reports that the Director of United Nations Information Centre(UNIC), Ronald Kayanja, acknowledged the strategic importance of the media in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that they have a critical role to play at the national and sub-national level.

The  Country Director noted that the involvement of United Nations Information Centre (UNIC)in the training of Nigerian journalists on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).and the establishment of Network of Sustainable Development Journalists underscored the commitment of United Nations to media training and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). by 2030.

 “We are in the Decade of Action which calls for accelerating sustainable solutions to all the world’s biggest challenges – ranging from poverty and gender to climate change, inequality and closing the finance gap. Sustainability Journalism is one of the drivers of solutions to the social, economic and environmental challenges”,Kayanja stated.

Penpushing reports that, the Chairman of Awareness and Information For All Network(MAIN), Prof Lai Oso, explained that the training would be held in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, with Maiduguri being the first explaining that  the objectives of the training as capacitating journalists with knowledge of sustainable development, to engender high-quality journalistic practice that holds government accountable to Agenda 2030; acquainting journalists of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets and indicators and how to monitor specific indicators ofSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and generate compelling stories and reports that will galvanise local and people’s action for sustainable development in Nigeria; and strengthen the capacity of participants in sustainability reporting with emphasis on economic, social and environmental dimensions; among others.

The media guru emphasised that the overall outcomes of the training would be to enhance skills and knowledge of journalists to approach reporting from the sustainability perspectives; and to establish a sustainability journalists’ network that will engage regularly to report and view development initiatives in Nigeria from the prism of sustainability.

Penpushing further reports that the training in Maiduguri was the flag-off of series of training workshops planned to take place in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria,while other locations are Kano (North-Central); Abuja (North-Central); Enugu (South-East); Uyo (South-South); and Lagos (South-West).

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