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The Development Initiative for Community Impact (DICI), play host to representatives of Local Government officials, Communities, market women, different organisations and major stakeholders in Warri North Local Government Area, in a Dialogue Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The event which is tagged “Advancing Localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Delta state” is design to raise SDGs awareness among local, state Actors and Non-State Actors in Delta state, and To promote active citizens participation in engaging and monitoring of SDGs implementation in Delta state.
The Executive Director, Development Initiative for Community Impact, Rachael Misan-Ruppee, in her opening address,
Urges participants, especially the people from the riverine communities to acquaint themselves with workings of the SDGs, and also monitor it implementation at their various communities.
“The SDGs is already four years, people still don’t know about it. Somebody ones asked me if its a political party; and this is something the local man in Tsekelewu, Opuama, Jakpa suppose to be conversant with for proper monitoring of its implementation.”
“The SDGs is made up of five Ps, People, Planet, Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership, so if at this time people still don’t know and they are thinking is a political party it therefore means that what happened to the MDGs would want to happen to the SDGs, and that is what we don’t want. That is why we are here on this dialogue forum”
“We want everybody to know what the SDGs is all about and key in immediately, and that is why we have come down this far to meet with you people here in your place. We could have invited you over to Warri, Asaba or even Sapele and have this session there, but we said No, we have to bring it to your doorstep so you can know”
“If you recall when we were introducing ourselves, you will discover that we have various communities representatives here, so when you go back home today after this dialogue you must in return tell your people about the SDGs. We must remind ourselves that SDGs is not solely for government this time around, it is for everyone one of us, civil society organisations are part of it, Media is part of it, and Private sector are also part of it.”
READ ALSO: SDGs Advocacy Visit: DICI leads other Organisations to Warri South-West LGA Chairman
Speaking on the topic “The Role of the Local Government Authority in implementing SDGs”, the resource persons, Ambassador Caroline Usikpedo, who took participants through the formation of the SDGs, charges the participants to always engage the Local Government authority on the particular goal they want to implement, who in turn will engage the state government on the demand of the people.
“If you have oil company here in your area you should be able to engage the company through the SDG, and if you have logical suggestion with facts to back them up the oil company will listen to you as a community leaders. In a situation like this, the Local Government Authority can add their voice to the suggestions because they are closest government.”
“The Local Government will now liaise with the oil company in terms of things like Licensing, and also relate it to the state governor in case the task is bigger than their mandate and do proper follow up till that goal is achieved. This is one of the roles local government authorities can play in implementing SDGs”
On the goal they wants to implement in Warri North, through a collaborative effort of the Local Government Authority, State Government, and the private sectors, participants suggested Goal one- No Poverty, Goal Four – Quality Education, Goal Five – Gender Equality, Goal Six – Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal Seven – Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal Eight – Decent work and Economic Growth, Goal Sixteen – Peace, Justice and Strong Institution, and Goal Seventeen – Partnership for Goals.
One of the participants, Amaju Okotiebor said ” In this Local Government I would want the Government to focus on achieving Goal Eight which is Decent work and Economic Growth, because it promotes Inclusive and Economic Growth and Creation of Employment for all”
The Dialogue forum that also had a panel session that feature Local Government Chairman, Representatives from Communities, Private Sector, and the Media as panellists.
Responding to questions during the panel session, the chairman, Warri North Local Government Council, Hon. Okorodudu Aduge, who was represented by the Head of Personnel Management, Warri North LGA, Amigo Emiloju, states the commitment of the Local Government Authority to partner with all relevant authorities to achieve the SDGs.
“The seventeen goals are all noble and people oriented goals, goals that will bring about better life for our people, and the business of government is to ensure that there is better life. Now that we are aware of these goals, we shall ensure our full support in achieving them.”
READ MORE: #ACT4SDGs: Align your programs to citizens needs, Rachael Misan-Ruppee to Government
In an interview chat with “The South Daily”, representative of Total Nigeria PLC (Oil Company Operating in Warri North), Fred Arem, call on other companies operating in Warri North to partner with the Government in achieving these SDGs.
“Our programs are similar with those of SDGs, because we already have a similar program to goal Four, goal Eight, Goal Thirteen and Goal Eleven. So, it is a welcome idea for us at Total, is what we believed in and what we have been doing”
Fred further said his company has indicated interest in aligning their next programs with the SDG one in order to eradicate poverty.
“The SDG one which says no poverty is similar with one of our program at our head office in Lagos, where we are considering employment opportunities for people living with disability, so we can do more if we partner in this area.”
“Already Total has set the pace, we have other companies in this Local Government that can also key in to complement our effort. Like I have said before we are open for partnership”
Present at the Dialogue Forum are the Chairman of the Warri North LGA, Representatives from different communities in Warri North, Total Nigeria PLC, Optimal, Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, Itsekiri Regional Development Council, Christian Association of Nigeria, and other Organisations
