The Senior Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Adaora Ijezie, on Thursday, May 2, 2019 inaugurated an eight-man committee at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) to drive the global goals advocacy and contribute to its implementation in Imo State.
The inauguration was made during the SDGs4Universities workshop organised by the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICDDI) in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
President of the University’s Student Union Government, Comrade Frank Eze, coordinated the election process that produced the following executive members: Uchenna Innocent as Coordinator, Uzowuihe Promise as Deputy Coordinator, Mark Onyinyechi as Partnership and Collaboration Director, Onwuamaegbu Johnbosco as Communication Director, Uche Favour Ekene (Beulah) as Assistant Communication Director, Nwaigbo Chinwendu Agatha as Financial Coordinator, Chibuike Emmanuel as Organizing Secretary and Obia Harry Benjamin as General Secretary.
Addressing the newly inaugurated group, Ijezie said, “Imo State looks up to FUTO SDGs Group for guidance in implementing the SDGs. We also want the university to contribute to research and innovation which can be deployed for the development and economic prosperity of the state.”
Speaking after the inauguration of the FUTO SDGs Group, Mr. Olumide Idowu, co-founder of ICCDI, expressed delight and hope that the group would be dedicated to drive the Agenda 2030 conversations and lead local actions in the state.
In a related development, some 107 students of FUTO made commitments to play very active roles in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. They made the commitment during an SDGs4Universities workshop on Thursday, May 2.
Promise Uzowuihe, a 300-level student of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department said, “It is quite disheartening to know that there are only a few orthopaedic hospitals in Nigeria, using the targets under Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), I will form a group of like-minds that can interface with the government to call them to account on the basis of health care and further assist them with partnership models that will increase access to orthopaedic facilities and health care for people in Imo State.”
Another student, Ihekaire Cynthia from the Department of Agricultural Economics identified indiscrimination against women in her community as a problem.
“I believe that by organising educational programmes that stress the important roles and possible contributions of women in our society, the self-esteem of women and young girls will be built. The targets under goal 10 (Gender Inequality) will serve as a guide for me to do this effectively,” Cynthia said.
Project Coordinator, Seyifunmi Adebote, commended the students for sharing their innovative ideas, saying: “Understanding that you have an important role in achieving the SDGs is the first step to making a difference in your community. I want to encourage you all to share these ideas with your friends and family too. If you need support in carrying out these plans, be free to reach out to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals.”
The SDGs4Universities is a project by the ICCDI targeted at actively engaging tertiary institutions to incorporate the SDGs framework into their academic calendar with the aim of aiding people-driven development.
By Seyifunmi Adebote, Abuja
