By Our Reporter
With Nigeria ranked 146 out of 166 countries on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation according to a 2023 report, the National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN) has inaugurated its Cross River State Executive with a target to upscale the implementation of (SDGs) across the State.
NYAN says it has identified the slow pace of SDGs implementation in the state and seeks and immediate improvement from the status quo: SDGs report released last year ranked Nigeria amongst 20 least countries in SDGs implementation, with Finland topping the chart with about 86.8 percent, followed by Sweden with 85 percent.
Shortly after inaugurating the maiden NYAN state Assembly, Ambassador Eugene Ojua, Chairman Electoral Planning Committee, said the key objective is SDGs implementation across the state.
Ojua said, “It’s a thing of joy that it’s a success. what we’re supposed to achieve is maters that affect the youths. And drafting out SDGs centered policies that can affect the youths positively in close collaboration with the State House of Assembly. So that when such policies are recommended, the State House of Assembly can take them up from there and pass into law.
“These policies in question are mainly going to focus on getting the Youth involved in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation in Cross River State.”
Overall, 18 representatives representing the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), forming the sate Assembly, while 196 LGA ambassadors from the wards in the state, with each ward having one representative form the local government Assemblies. Thus the chapter inaugurated State and local government representatives.
Elected were Ambassadors Bassey Nton Nton, Speaker state Assembly, Effiom Angela Effefiom, Deputy Speaker, state Assembly, Edet Cletus, Cross River State Southern Representative, and other local government and ward representatives.
Speaking on political influence, Ambassador Eugene Ojua added that, “we’re already aware of obstacles of politicisation of youth groups, so that’s why we we’re very careful in selecting our ambassadors, who we believe would strongly represent our views and opinions. We tried as much as possible to limit political influence. We’re trying to work independently as an organization. We’re going to be working more closely with independent organizations rather than politicians.”