BY TIMOTHY S. AIKOR Ph.D –
“Business is a vital partner in achieving the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Companies can contribute through their core activities, and we ask companies everywhere to assess their impact, set ambitions, goals and communicate transparently about results”- Ban Ki Moon (Former Secretary General of the United Nations).
In the framing of the of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) which contains 17 Goals, 169 Targets and 230 Key performance indicators, it was envisioned that SDGs will have a present and a future that is economically sustainable, socially inclusive and environmentally resilient. All the goals ranging from the universal call to end poverty, the Health, Education, Water, Gender, Social economic, Security sectors related goals to Global partnerships cannot be achieved by stand-alone policies of government.
To this extent, I call on Local, State and Federal Governments to be very strategic in 2022 and beyond to engage business SMEs owners/Private sector and even the informal sector of the economy as enablers and ultimate beneficiaries of inclusive and sustainable development programmes.
They should sensitize and build the capacities of SMEs in this direction. This way, we can benefit from; SMEs creativity, innovativeness, partnership agenda, achieve business led solutions, strengthen SMEs partnerships with development partners especially, the UN systems and generally help translate global goals into local businesses.
This can be achieved through strategic planning; hosting and sponsorship of sensitization workshops, capacity building through trainings and a sustainable mentorship program among others.
- Dr Timothy Aikor, Lecturer with Dept. of Supply Chain Management, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, is a former Special Advisor to Benue state Government on MDGs.
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