Nigeria will be poverty-free by 2030, Fayemi assures

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has expressed optimism that poverty can be eradicated in Nigeria in 2030, as projected, with diligent prosecution of the Sustainable Development Goal’s policy.

Dr. Fayemi said the state would continue to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) vision of ensuring that poverty is banished across the developing nations, especially Nigeria, in 2030.

The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Biodun Omoleye, spoke in Ado Ekiti during an event commemorating the 2019 International Youth Day.

Fayemi urged the youths to develop themselves intellectually and skillfully, to be able to compete with their global contemporaries, since the world is now a “global village”.

He said : “The essence of the SDGs is to eradicate poverty globally and make the world a better place to live for everyone by 2030.

“Throughout the world, there is a new order that recognises the skills of young people, a new order that believes society must be devoid of poverty and diseases, a new order that believes people must live well, a world free of pollution and how do we get there?

“Governor Fayemi knew that any order that fails to empower the youths with leadership is bound to fail. The present government is ready to empower you, because you are our future.

“So, let your impacts be felt in your respective communities, because development starts from the grassroots. The SDGs goal is to eradicate poverty before 2030, this can be attained with partnerhips among relevant stakehokders “, he stated.

The Governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, charged the youths to be focused, visionary and engaged in productive activities for them to succeed in life.

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“You don’t need to rely on money to become fulfilled, with strong vision and focusness, you can become great . Lay your hands on productive ventures and run away from evils”.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SDGs, Dr. Abimbola Solanke, described the SDG’s interaction with youths as the first of its kind in the State since 2015 when the goals was adopted by World Leaders.

“It is worthy of note that Ekiti is fortunate to be part of the 21 States that will be celebrating 2019 edition of International Youth Day facilitated by Nigerian Youths Network in SDGs. Our mission is to use Ekiti youths as local SDGs advocates for meaningful impact.

“We need to let you know that since 2015 when SDGs was adopted by World Leaders, Ekiti State has not keyed into organizing and Converging Youths for SDGs development oriented programmes and also establishing impact driven structures and networks that will enable Ekiti Youths take ownership of the goals”, She said.

Solanke said though government has a primary responsibility to implementing the SDGs policy, but insisted that the policy was not a sole responsibility of government .

She urged the youths to take ownership of SDGs development policy, to be able to have strong community impact it was targeted to achieve.