NAN-HG-6
SDGs
By Bassey Bassey
Uyo, July 27, 2017 (NAN) A civil society organisation (CSO) network, Afrihealth Optonet Association, says it has earmarked N76 million ($242,000) to facilitate the attainment of some sustainable development goals (SDGs) targets in the Niger Delta region.
The National Coordinator of the network, Dr Uzodinma Adirieje, said this on Thursday in Uyo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Adirieje further disclosed that the grant was received from the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), dedicated to SDGs implementation in the nine states of the Niger Delta.
He said that the project would target implementation of goals three and five of the SDGs- good health and wellbeing as well as gender equality.
Adirieje said that the project, which would last between Jan. 2017 and Dec. 2018, would concentrate on 81 selected local government areas of the Niger Delta region.
“The project selects nine local government areas from each of the nine states of the region.
“We focus on gender mainstreaming, good governance, human rights and citizen participation in development.
“Right now in Akwa Ibom, we are training 22 community duty bearers that will help to identify the needs of the communities and ways of providing the needs,” said.
He explained that the project employed the principle of partnership and collaboration by establishing community consultation committee with equal representation of men and women in each project site.
“Under our advocacy, communication and social mobilisation strategy, we also go to government functionaries and engage them.
“So far, the project has done advocacy visits to government officials in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo and Ondo,” Adirieje said.
He said that the CSO carried out audience research and outreaches to communities and also assisted them to take ownership of any project sited in their domain to enhance sustainable development.
“We empower the community folks to take charge and contribute to the development of their communities.”
He gave the assurance that the work of the network would impact positively in the Niger Delta states before the target year 2030 of the SDGs. (NAN)
BB/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed