Experts Urge Educational Review to Achieve SDGs

Stakeholders have identified factors including man-made disasters, weak institutional frameworks, inadequate financing, and overreliance on certificate-based education as the bottlenecks to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.

During a cross-section of paper presentations from researchers in an event organised by the Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Maiduguri, to mark their 2nd International Conference, the stakeholders also highlighted policy inconsistencies as significant gaps in SDG implementation in Nigeria.

The event, which featured the theme “Harnessing Sustainable Development Goals Towards Expanding Economic Frontiers: Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Solutions, brought together renowned scholars, policymakers, industry experts, researchers, and students to deliberate on the role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in economic expansion and sustainable prosperity.

Delivering his address, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ail Pantami, emphasised the need for digital transformation, financial inclusion, and good governance to drive sustainable economic growth.

Other notable speakers included Andrey Bogdanov, CEO of Risk Insights, South Africa; Professor Nanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Nigeria; and Professor Cecilia Olukemi Yekini, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom, who also highlighted the significant gaps in SDG implementation.

They emphasised the need for the good government to introduce economically innovative ideas and programs that will improve the country’s standing in international trade and investment.

The expert called for the prioritisation of entrepreneurship-based education of Nigerian youths to drive innovation and economic growth in the country.

The conference also stressed the importance of promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the informal sector, which are critical drivers of job creation in Nigeria.

However, participants noted that poor access to finance, weak tax compliance structures, and regulatory bottlenecks limit the potential of these sectors.

Climate change and environmental sustainability were also major themes at the conference as participants emphasised the need for sustainable land-use policies, tree planting initiatives, and clean energy investments to mitigate climate change risks in Northern Nigeria.