Why Nigeria, world at large performing poorly in Sustainable Development Goals – UNDP

Nigeria and the rest of the world are doing poorly on the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, according to a report published by the United Nations Development Programme, or UNDP.

According to the 2023–24 Human Development Report published in Nigeria on Wednesday by Olawale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance.

The report clarified how far the world has fallen short of fulfilling its commitment to leaving no one behind and the 2030 Agenda.

As a result, the report’s Nigerian launch broadened the discussion on the subjects included in it, contextualised them inside the country, and increased national knowledge of the report’s main conclusions among relevant parties.

The Human Development Index (HDI), a summary indicator that takes into account a nation’s Gross National Product (GNP), per capita GNI, level of education, and life expectancy, showed signs of improvement, the report noted. However, it was still uneven, partial, and incomplete.

Edun stated at the launch that Nigeria’s HDI is in poor condition, and that improvement is desperately needed.

“The HDR is a rallying cry that we can and must do better than this, and it charts a way forward for conversations on reimagining development cooperation for a better world.

“In re-imagining cooperation, international financial architecture ought to be structured to proactively support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the realization of human rights.

“The only way to facilitate such a structure is through ambitious reforms, starting with more inclusive, representative and, ultimately, more effective global economic governance.”

On his part, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Fall said: “The HDR argues that polarization and mismanagement of cross-border interdependencies are at the root of many contemporary challenges, ranging from debt distress in numerous low- and middle-income countries to threats to food security to a pervasive sense of disempowerment around the world.

He further added: “Polarization within and amongst our countries is creating “a global gridlock,” and preventing us from forging international cooperation towards addressing our shared challenges. This polarization, whether at the sub-national, national, regional, or global levels signifies an erosion of trust, that is dividing societies into opposing camps and poisoning domestic and international cooperation.”

While presenting her remarks, the Resident Representative for UNDP Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah said, “Since its (HDR) inception, the Human Development Report has become a flagship knowledge product. This unique annual report has not only helped to establish a new broad definition of development but also to evaluate the progress made and highlight key challenges drawing on statistics. “This report encourages political leaders and development practitioners around the world to keep raising our ambitions and following up on areas that need support.

Attafuah further added: “The Report calls us to change course, otherwise the world may not recover from the decline in human progress. “The repercussion of not changing course and removing the gridlock is in the additional lives that will be lost, in opportunities that will be forgone, and in feelings of despair. “The report presents ways forward that hinge on reimagining cooperation in ways that do not assume away divergent interests or opinions but work with them to deliver global public goods – where we all stand to benefit. “This report opens a new trilogy of human development reports that will explore further the layers of uncertainty identified in the latest HDR: how to address polarization (2023-24), shape our shared digital future to advance human development (2025), and marshal human aspirations to navigate the Anthropocene (2026).”

Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labor and Employment; Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development; and Mohamed M.M. Fall, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, were also present at the launch.

ZINGTIE recalls that the UNDP has released the Human Development Report and Index every year for the past 34 years, ranking all nations according to their living standards, health, and education.

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