INTRODUCTION Since the entrenchment of the SDGs, World leaders have partnered with the United Nations and registered their initiatives and programmes to accelerate the implementation of one or multiple of the SDGs. According to the SDG Index of Sustainable Development Report, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany are ranked as the top four countries in the world making progress towards the attainment of the SDGs. While it may appear African counties are still far behind in the attainment of these goals, they have also mounted efforts towards their actualization. African countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Ethiopia to mention a few have been committed to this mission. We shall now consider the efforts of some of these countries towards the attainment of SDG. NIGERIA In 2023, Nigeria is ranked 146th of the 166 countries indexed on the Sustainable Development Goals Report with 54.4% index score. Going by this report, Nigeria has moved from her 160th position in 2020. This further buttresses the fact that, while African countries have not attained these goals, they are making conscious effort towards the actualization of same. In her efforts towards realizing these goals, the Nigerian government went into an agreement with the United Nations with the aim of aligning her development priorities with the SDGs. In 2017, Nigeria was among the 44 member countries of the UN to present its Voluntary National Review (NVR). Thus, Nigeria remains committed to this noble course and has demonstrated that through various initiatives and programmes. This commitment is observed not only at the national levels but among the various states across the federation as well. For instance, in Lagos State, the Sanwo-Olu-led administration observe an annual SDG week to commemorate the UN’s global goals week by stakeholders and also access the performance of the state towards the actualization of the SDGs. Lagos SDG Youth Alliance, an initiative geared towards the inclusion of youths in facilitating sustainable development has equally been inaugurated. It is also interesting to note that, the Kaduna State government was one of the first subnational governments in the world to conduct an indepth analysis of local SDGs data and strategy development to implement all 17 SDGs in the State. The outcome of the Kaduna statewide local SDGs analysis resulted into a report document; and was launched in 2017 as the first ever subnational SDG Report in Nigeria. In the educational sector, the Buhari-led administration moved to reduce the number of out-ofschool children in the country in order to achieve SGD-4 by introducing the school feeding programme to get more children to the four walls of school to have access to formal education. The Universal Basic Education Board also made provision for free Universal Basic Education for every Nigerian child of school-going age. Also on education, higher institutions of learning have shown their commitment to the promotion of sustainable development. For instance, the University of Ibadan established the Center for Sustainable Development to facilitate trainings on sustainable development issues such as the political, economic, social, cultural and physical environment while also serving as a base for the operations of the University of Ibadan’s Master of Development Program (MDP). Non-governmental organizations have also played active roles in improving the quality of education in Nigeria as a drive towards the actualization of the SDGs. For instance, Teach for Nigeria is an initiative founded by Folawe Omikunle to get young graduate interested in teaching engaged in rural communities in Nigeria where educational facilities are inadequate. In support of SDG-2 implementation in Nigeria, a body known as the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum (NZHF) with Secretariat at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) was inaugurated in 2017 at the instance of World Food Programme (WFP), and the composition of NZHF enjoys a high political visibility, having former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as the Convener and a number of State Governors as members of the Forum. The mandates of NZHF includes to catalyze and promote policy best practices required for meeting the SDG-2 targets while optimizing the use of available resources for the same purpose. As regards the attainment of SDGs 8 and 9, the Nigerian government launched its policy document entitled, Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP) for 2017 – 2020. This is a federal government policy formulated as a medium-term development strategy that is expected to manage the country’s economic transition from recession to the path of inclusive growth, sustainable development and a more assured trajectory of universal prosperity. The plan was forecasted to enable the government diversify the economic aspects of nation building, accelerate investments in infrastructure and human capital, while also promoting investment in key social sectors in order to create jobs and at the same time targeting reforms that will leverage the power of the private sector. This laudable policy has however failed to actualize its objectives as the economy continues to feel the heat of high inflation rate, youth unemployment, foreign direct investment deficit etc. all of which threatens the attainment of SDGs 8 and 9 in Nigeria. While the Nigerian government have made also ensured gender equality in her policy formulation, for instance the government has put in place national gender policy to serve as a guide towards achieving gender equality, there is an increase in the number of women holding senatorial positions in the country, women have access to financial facilities just as their male counterparts, there is also a reduction in the labour force gap between the male and female, more however still needs to be done. Nigeria was among the countries who ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in a bid to actualize SDG 5. The World Gender Gap report in 2023 reveals that, Nigeria ranks 130th as against 123rd in 2022 with a score of 0.639 out of a total of 146 countries using parameters like economic participation and oppurtunity, educational attainment, health and survival, political appointment and financial exclusion or wealth accumulation of the female gender. According to this report, Nigeria has less than 65% wealth equality between the male and female gender. This makes obvious the gap that still exist in the actualization of the provisions of CEDAW. Access to reproductive health care still continues to be grossly inadequate especially in the rural areas. Similarly, there is a wide gap between the number of the girl child and boy child who can access educational facilities (especially in Northern Nigeria) hinged on cultural stereotypes. The Nigerian government and diverse Non-governmental organizations have played pivotal roles in ensuring a sustainable physical environment for all citizens. This the government have exemplified through various initiatives and programmes such as the establishment of the Great Green Wall in Northern Nigeria to serve as protection against the effects of climate change in the region and, restore degraded farmlands which in turn will ensure SDGs-2, 13 and 15. The Great Green Wall project is operational at locations classified as desertification frontline states of Nigeria which involves 11 Northern states of; Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara. The government through various agencies and ministries have also championed environmental friendly awareness programmes such as Tree planting projects, environmental inspection to ensure compliance to environmental by populace, provision of waste management services to mention a few. Also bothering on government’s commitment to environmental protection was the declaration a state of emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the FCT in a bid to put an end to open defecation in Abuja by Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Individuals, NGOs have also been instrumental in protecting the environment through various campaigns, advocacy and sensitization programmes, opening up recycling companies, engaging in recycle art etc. Regardless of the efforts that have been made towards the actualization of SDGs, there continue to be challenges towards achieving them. National insecurity-banditry, insurgency, kidnaping, farmers/herders clashes etc., continues threaten peaceful co-existence, food security Despite efforts towards environmental protection, environmental related issues such has deforestation, flooding, poor sanitation, open defecation, climate change still impends actualization of a safe, sustainable environment. While the government have good policies geared towards the attainment of SDGs, weak structures are put in place to facilitate the implementation of these policies. Bad leadership cum corruption has also derailed in no small amount the realization of these goals. Funds disbursed to facilitate programs and initiatives have been mismanaged by officials who should actually pilot these projects. Thus, agencies who should facilitate projects lack adequate finance, resources and even manpower to discharge their duties. If Nigeria will attain these 17 SDG goals then, efforts must be intensified by individuals, institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and government agencies to address these challenges and allow for a safer environment and, sustainable development in the country.
