As part of the commitments to support rapid progress for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by Africa, the Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Professor Labode Popoola joined over 200 global leaders in government, business, academia and civil society on Friday 27 January, 2017 in Kigali, Rwanda to launch the Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (SDGC/A). The primary objective of the event was to discuss the major themes relevant to the SDGs implementation in Africa, including a presentation of the Africa Report 2030 as well as the official launch of the Center.

The SDGC/A was established by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, following the signing of the historic agreement on Sustainable Development Goals during the UN General Assembly in September 2015. The launch is part of the Centre’s efforts at “Expediting the Implementation of Africa’s 2030 Agenda”. The event was co-organized by SDGC/A and the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI), with support from The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Vice Chancellor, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof. Labode Popoola who is also the Co-Director, Sustainable Development Solutions Network-Nigeria (SDSN-Nigeria) stated that the conference discussed ideas about how to leverage technology and innovation as well as stakeholder buy-in to achieve the SDGs. He emphasized that the Centre will not impose its ideas on member countries but, will provide technical back-stopping in doing research and adaptation to technology, as well as availing African countries the expertise that will enhance result-oriented implementation of the SDGs.”

When asked how the centre will help implement the SDGs, Popoola said, “the centre, by itself, is not meant to implement the SDGs but will strive to support technical innovations and also provide access to information on emerging issues in sustainable development; support African governments in developing new funding models to finance SDGs implementation in their respective countries, in addition to linking them with international SDGs financing sources. According to him, implementation of the SDGs is not the task of governments alone, but that of all citizens, particularly, the youths, businesses and researchers. To be able to play an active role in the process, Osun State University will formally join the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN-Nigeria).

At the event were the Chairman of the Board of the Centre, His Excellency President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda who also gave a keynote address; the Co-chairman, Mr. Aliko Dangote, a prominent Nigerian and international businessman and Hajia Amina J. Mohammed, Honourable Minister of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Deputy Secretary-General designate of the United Nations among others. It would be recalled that President Muhamadu Buhari joined other world leaders in September 2015 to launch the SDGs at the UN, thus effectively making Nigeria a key stakeholder in the Agenda 2030.