South Daily
Related Articles
In a bid to advance the Localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to all corners of the state, the Executive Director of Development Initiative for Community Impact (DICI), Rachael Misan-Ruppee, with support from the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), Led members of the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation(EGCDF), Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC), LITE-Africa, and Morgan Smart Development Foundation (MSDF) on advocacy visit to the Chairman and other principal executive officers of the Warri South-West Local Government Area Council.
Speaking during the advocacy visits whose objectives is “To raise SDGs awareness among locals, state Actors and Non-Actors in Delta state” and “To promote active citizens’ participation in engaging and monitoring of SDGs implementation in Delta state”, Rachael Misan-Ruppee highlights the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, urging the council chairman to key in.
“up till date, many people still don’t know SDGs and what it stands for. And its what you know you can engage. As at 26th of September this year the SDGs was four years already, its life span is fifteen years, so by year 2030, they call it Agenda 2030, we would’ve achieve what is in that Seventeen goals.”
“Because of the shortcomings of MDGs which have Top-to-Buttom approache, the SDGs is design with Buttom-to-Top approach which means it start at the grassroot, and this time around is not government and us, but rather it is we the people engaging critically with it”
“The local government is more closer to the people, and that was why in the course of designing this project I decided to site it at this other side of the river avoiding the regular areas like Warri, Asaba, and Ughelli where we use to hold the event before now because they are convenient. But this time around I decided that is Warri South-West and Warri North LGA, and Ogbe-Ijoh here is where I will do my dialogue and Koko is where I will do the other ones. We will come with the boats like we did this morning”
Rachael also stress the need for the Warri South-West LGA to partner with other Organisations in other achieve the goals.
” There are organisations that Chevron has set up, which is the Itsekiri Regional Development Council, and the Egbama Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation. If you are conversant with their activities you will know that they are into development, they have done a lot in this two LGAs, let say Warri South-West,they have built houses, cottage hospitals, these things the Local Government suppose to report them as achieving the SDGs”
“I really want to have a talk with the Local Government chairman and his principal officer hence my decision of taking the advocacy to this side of the river so we can really engage each other on the way to achieving the SDGs. Like I mentioned earlier about the IRDC and the EGCDF, these are two key organisations that are doing things already that the Local Government can partner”
The DICI Executive Director, further demanded to know the level of SDGs compliance in the LGA, Therefore requesting to know if the Local Government Council have a Desk Officer on the SDGs and other necessary details.
While Responding, The chairman, Warri South-West Local Government Council, Hon. Duke Tuoyo, appreciates the advocacy team for the visit, promising that a Desk Officer on SDGs will be appointed in the council within the shortes time to fast track activities of the SDGs.
He also assures the advocacy team of proper reporting of SDGs activities and installation of materials like signpost and painting that will portray SDGs presence in the LGA.
High points of the visit was the presentation of the IRDC Newsletter and the translated copies of the Seventeen goals to the chairman of the council, by the Chairman, Resource Mobilization and Fund Raising Committee, Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC), Isaac Dorsu, and the Executive Director, Development Initiative for Community Impact (DICI), Rachael Misan-Ruppee respectively.
Present with chairman during the advocacy visit, is the Secretary of the Local Government, Gladys Omare, Assistant Director of Administration, Mayomi Dan, Assistant Director of Information, Yvonne Suowari, and the NULGE Chairman, Sophia Omorogbe.
The advocacy team comprises Isaac Dorsu, who represented the Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC), Omasan Eyikpime who represented Morgan Smart Development Foundation (MSDF), Ebi Kinkin who represented Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF), and Iheanyi Iheye, who represented LITE-Africa.
