Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, stressed the urgency of expediting efforts to achieve the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking at a national conference organized by the Lagos State University Centre for the Actualization of the UN SDGs, Schmale emphasized the need to meet the 2030 SDGs deadline and leave no one behind. He pointed out that Nigeria faces challenges such as multidimensional poverty affecting 133 million people and over 20 million unemployed individuals.
The conference, titled “At the Midpoint of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals: Which Way Nigeria and Africa?” was co-organized by LASU-SDG and the United Nations Information Centre. Schmale noted that Africa, particularly Nigeria, holds great potential due to its structural solid foundations. He highlighted the role of universities in catalyzing change and shaping impactful solutions.
Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, emphasized the transformative potential of the conference to drive change towards achieving the SDGs. Prof. Tayo Ajayi, Director of the LASU-SDG Centre, underscored the significance of universities in contributing to the SDGs, stating that universities play a crucial role in addressing interconnected challenges for a sustainable future.
