UN hails Anambra Governor ,Obiano over SDGs implementation

www.odogwublog.com reports that United Nations yesterday described as a model the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs of the Anambra state government.
Commending the Governor Willie Obiano led government , the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Country, Edward Kallon,  noted that the state government has been on the lead in meeting its precautionary agreement, which he noted, was the reason for the choice of the state to host this year's annual retreat.
Kallon who is also the UNDP representative in the country, hinted that the retreat is expected to harmonize all UN activities and secure a clear vision and division of labour for the upcoming Development Assistant Framework.
Kallon made the commendation in Awka, at the ongoing annual retreat of the United Nations Country Team, with the theme "Operationalizing the Humanitarian-Development Nexus: A new way of working in enhancing UN coherence to support Nigeria's development."
He further said the choice of Anambra State as the host of the United Nations economic retreat was based on the three indices of sound security in the state, quality of leadership of the Obiano administration and the state’s partnership with reputable development partners.
Also speaking, the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, country Representative, Mohamed Fall, noted that the leadership of the United Nations is seeking easier ways to domesticate its programmes to be people centered and to entrench stronger strategies to strengthen governance systems in the country.
The retreat attracted all stakeholders in the Delivery-as-One programme, which is channeled at providing a structured conduit in fulfilling UN objectives in the country.


In an address, the Senior Special Assistant to the president on sustainable development goals and the former deputy governor of Lagos State, Princess Adegoke Adefora spelt out the positive values of the SDG programme signed into law by the Buhari administration in 2015, and the need for all hands to be on deck to actualize its ideals.

On his part, the Minister of National Budget and Planning Hajia Zenab Ahmed represented by the Director General of Budget and National Planning, Pastor Ben Akabueze announced that all the seventeen sustainable development goals have been sustained in Nigeria’s development agenda which hold big promises in the country’s economic growth.

In an address, Governor Willie Obiano enumerated the success recorded by the present administration in the areas of Agriculture, Health, Education, among other sectors of the economy courtesy of the security consciousness of his administration which has occasioned the influx of investors in the state and its consequences of direct and indirect jobs for the teeming Unemployed youths

Describing Anambra as the first largest economy in Nigeria after Lagos and Abuja, the governor announced that the state has the lowest poverty rate in Nigeria with a gross domestic product of 11-83 billion dollars per capital income.

He said the ambition of his administration is to after the completion of his second tenure in office the state would have achieved self sufficiency like Lagos state is presently doing.
In a welcome address, the state commissioner for Budget and Economic planning Mr. Mark Okoye expressed delight in the choice of Anambra State to host the economic summit expecting all stakeholders to key into the vision of the SDGS.

Reacting on the summit, the state heard of service, Barrister Harry Udu said the bedrock of every government is the civil servants the operators of the bureaucracy who share in the success stay of the Obiano administration.

Barrister Udu expressed delight in the confirmation of governor Obiano’s good governance through his recent recognition for good governance by the United Nations country team resident coordinator.

The head of service extolled the focus mind of the governor who as a good administration is not diverted by the political distractions around him.

He expects the civil servants to key into the vision of the governor by sustaining their high productively level.

In their separate reactions, the deputy speaker of the state house of Assembly Barrister Harford Oseke and the transition committee chairman for Ihiala local government area Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Odimegwu commended the Obiano administration for providing a good platform for the development of the state.

The duo expect the citizenry to ensure the reelection of the governor for a second term in office.