With the 2030 deadline for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fast approaching, the Nigeria Civil Society Organisations Strategy Group on SDGs (CSOSG-SDGs Nigeria) faces a critical mandate: to amplify the voices of everyday citizens and drive precise, impactful advocacy that ensures their social demands are met.
Development Diaries reports that the SDG group, operating under the auspices of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, has elected a board member of ImpactHouse Centre for Development Communication, Ayodele Taofiq-Fanida, and eight other civil society leaders to its National Executive for a two-year term.
The group, in a press statement issued by its newly elected Public Relations Officer, Gerald Esemonu, said the officers were democratically-elected with representations from the various CSOs operating in regions and sectors to ensure broad representation, gender and inclusivity.
Those elected are Chair, Dr Alexander Akhigbe; Vice Chair (Administration), Jane Douglas; Vice Chair (Operations), Egondu Esinwoke-Ogbalor; Secretary, Dr. Auwal Ahmed; Project Coordinator, Glory Otuojor; Treasurer, Dr. Adewale Kupoluyi; Resource Mobilisation Officer, Taofiq-Fanida; Public Relations Officer, Esemonu; and Director of Welfare, Collins Nyong.
‘The objectives of CSOSG-SDGs Nigeria include advocating for SDG-focused policies that align with the needs of all communities; collaborating with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to implement SDG-related programmes; empowering CSOs through capacity-building initiatives to enhance their impact on SDG targets; monitoring and evaluating progress on SDG implementation to ensure transparency and accountability; and providing professional advice on the role of CSOs in the realisation of SDGs, among others’, the statement read.
Their task is straightforward but daunting: ensuring that civil society remains a strong conduit for the voices of citizens and that those in power are not just hearing but also acting on those voices.
While the group emphasises inclusivity, representation, and capacity building, the most glaring challenge remains turning Nigerians’ growing social noise into transformative civic action.
For many, as observed by ImpactHouse – a CSO working to empower citizens, civil society, and the media with training, innovative technology and strategic resources to drive responsive and accountable governance in Africa – the concept of the SDGs is as distant as a policy document gathering dust in a government office.
What matters to everyday citizens are the practical realities: access to quality health care, gender equality, economic opportunities, and the ability to live with dignity.
CSOs, including the newly elected officials of CSOSG-SDGs Nigeria, must take concrete steps to make the SDGs more accessible and relevant to the average Nigerian.
Given the caliber of the newly elected executive members, expectations extend beyond policy discussions to tangible, citizen-focused action.
The clock is ticking towards 2030, and there is no time for business as usual.