To have an impact in Nigeria, the private sector’s value chain and its innovative ways have become ever more necessary with regards to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Ahead of 2020 Global Citizen Festival scheduled to hold in Lagos on September 26, 2020, government at all levels have been urged to show commitment.
The Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream was launched by Global Citizen, in partnership with Teneo, during the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York on September 26, 2019.
The campaign in Nigeria aims to exceed this, by mobilising billions in commitments for Nigeria. Specifically, $2 billion of the money allocated to Nigeria will be used to impact the lives of millions of impoverished women and girls.
To be on target to achieve the United Nations Global Goals by 2030, 120 million people should have been lifted out of extreme poverty between 2016 and now. The 2019 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers report estimates that 83 million people have escaped poverty during that period, demonstrating progress, but falling short of the required rate. For every year we remain behind the target, the work needed to achieve the Global Goals increases.
“Achieving Nigeria’s pledge to lift 100 million people out of poverty in the next decade will only be possible if the public sector, private sector, and civil society collaborate closely. A coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach is essential,” said Tunde Folawiyo, Global Citizen Nigeria Chairman while speaking at the launch recently. ” We cannot ignore it because it will be to everybody’s detriment,” he said.
Despite the positive global trend, poverty rates in Africa have increased. Today, two-thirds of those living in extreme poverty globally live in Africa and at current rates, by 2030 the continent will account for 90 percent of all individuals living in extreme poverty.
Nigeria tops the list of the African countries where rates of poverty are increasing, with 6 people falling into extreme poverty every minute. Current estimates put the number of people living in extreme poverty in Nigeria at 89 million; the highest anywhere in the world, and more than 40 percent of the population. Address these rather stark realities. The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to lift 100 million people out of extreme poverty over the next 10 years, an average of 10 million per annum.
Also speaking, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, vice chairman, Global Citizen Nigeria said that the government alone cannot deliver the resources we need to win the fight against extreme poverty.
“We must create multiple entry points to allow local and global influencers to come together and make a difference. Innovative financing models, creative partnerships and new technology are what this movement to end poverty must deliver”.
“Nigeria must adopt strategies such as collective action and sectoral focus thereby creating multiple entry points that address the various SDGs and sectors in eradicating poverty,” he said
According to Mick Sheldrick Global Citizen Co-Founder, the world needs $350b annually if we are to end extreme poverty and achieve the Global Goals in the 59 poorest countries by 2030.
“And as we’ve seen, each year we do not meet this cost, more people will fall into poverty and the cost of inaction will go up. That’s why 2020 must be a year of urgency where we remind the world’s governments and businesses of the budget gap facing the goals, they all signed up for. We look forward to working with the Nigerian private sector to help drive progress toward the Goals,” he said.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
