On this day two years ago, suspected Boko Haram militants raided Government Secondary School – Chibok in Borno state of Nigeria abducting more than 200 girls in the process. To date, most of these girls are yet to be traced and rescued. But even some of those who were rescued, especially those who fell pregnant as a result of forced marriage to their abductors, were never fully re-integrated into society, adding to their trauma.
At the UN, we believe that in order to pursue economic growth that is both equitable and sustainable, a number of structural reforms are needed. This is increasingly becoming more urgent as countries embark of the SDGs implementation process. Going forward, Mr Chairman, we will pursue, together with our national partners, especially the government, an economic diversification programme that elevates the agricultural, non-oil manufacturing, solid minerals and the service sectors, shifting emphasis and attention to higher value adding activities whilst reducing reliance on volatile commodity exports such as oil and gas
The situation in Maiduguri is critical, there is need for all development and humanitarian actors to scale up their support to complement efforts by the government in Borno State.” Said Fatma Samoura, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator who is also UNDP Resident Representative, at the end of her first mission to the North East of Nigeria. Ms. Samoura visited Maiduguri 31 March – 1 April 2016 during which period she met State Authorities, humanitarian actors from International Non-Governmental Organisations, Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in camps and informal host communities.
Recovery and reconstruction means building back better. We need to look at what conditions made our infrastructure and livelihoods vulnerable to natural disasters and ensure that these conditions are not replicated during the recovery phase. We need to come up with measures to reduce exposure to future natural hazards – this is the essence of being Resilient. It means having the ability to Prevent, Absorb, Adapt and Transform ourselves in situations of disasters.
Nigeria has experienced growth in the recent past and now is Africa’s largest economy. However, this growth has not translated in poverty reduction and reduced inequalities.” Said new Head of the United Nations System and UNDP Resident Representative, Fatma Samoura during a breakfast meeting with the media today.
United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Fatma Samoura, today, presented her Letters of Credence to the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Hon. Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Newly appointed Resident Representative for UNDP in Nigeria (who will also serve as UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator) has taken up her position in Abuja. Before coming to Nigeria, Ms. Fatma Samoura, a Senegalese national, served as Resident Representative for UNDP Madagascar and as head of the UN System in the country from October 2010
In highlighting the critical challenges that lie ahead following the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Climate Agreement, Opia pointed out the need to align national plans and budgets to these very ambitious but achievable international development agreements.
"SDGs are a comprehensive framework for development and progress for all nations. They are a platform for launching our development and progress." stated Opia in his remarks during the interview with Nigeria's Africa Independent Television watched across the continent.
The world urgently needs to build upon these efforts with a new global compact on human mobility based on better cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination, with enhanced responsibility sharing, and full respect of the human rights of migrants, regardless of their status.
Legislators have a representational role to play as they advocate interest of their constituents. They also have an oversight role, ensuring that the country gets value for money and remains on the SDGs path. They are also responsible for ensuring that policy formulation, planning and importantly, budget making processes respond to the SDGs.
“Although we all know that the government is the custodian of the national development agenda, citizens’ efforts and support in mobilising the needed resources remain key in delivering development results. The country will only achieve more than it did during the MDGs era if political will is matched with adequate resources; both financial and human.” Opia Mensah
It is therefore of enormous importance that the elimination of violence against women and girls and of all harmful practices against women and girls is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and is included in specific targets in the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa today launched an initiative to support African countries to prevent and respond to the growth of violent extremism through a development lens.
UNDP works in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, development partners, UN agencies, civil society and local communities to help identify local solutions to meet national development challenges through a range of interventions that combine UNDP’s expertise and comparative advantage in the areas of Governance & Peace Building, Inclusive growth and Sustainable Development.
The Report highlights Nigeria's progress and status in meeting the MDGs targers agreed upon at the Millennium Summit in 2000. As the last report tracking progress in meeting the country's MDGs promise, it also highlights lessons learnt and proposes a way forward in the new development era, the Sustainable Development Goals.
This report highlights the results of the interventions we supported during the year 2014. It also shows our partnerships at both Federal and State levels continue to contribute to sustainable human development in Nigeria.
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