The forum, entitled: "Engaging Religious Leaders in Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy, Solutions and Actions" was organized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Nigeria (SDSN Nigeria).
It was attended by no fewer than thirty religious leaders in Nigeria, including the traditional groups, members of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
According to the organizers, the Forum aimed at propagating the ideas of sustainable development goals (SDGs) for optimization of its benefits to humanity.

In an opening address to the participants at the forum, the Co-Director, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Nigeria (SDSN Nigeria) and Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Labode Popoola maintained that in view of the importance attached to their positions and the respect accorded them by their followers, the religious leaders had a key role to play in spreading the knowledge of sustainable development goals (SDGs), which frown at poverty, diseases, corruption, inequalities, environmental challenges among others.
Professor Labode said: “Every citizen has one or more religious leader (s) he or she is attached to. More so, statistics show that there are more worship places in every settlement and cities than socio-economic structures.
“Evidence reveals that every class in our society respects religious leadership even more than government institutions.
“Therefore, engagement of religions in the process of implementation of, and action on SDGs is very crucial to achieving the deliverables of the Agenda at all levels."

He further explained the involvement of the religious leaders in sustainable development advocacy to include their commitments to fundamental service to humanity and serving communities.
"These commitments are through divine preaching and exemplary leadership in the expression of respect for the creatures, protecting nature, reinforcing people’s trust and confidence at good deeds and rewards.
"The SDGs were developed as a road map for inclusive growth, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability, to succeed the former eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 2000 to 2015.
“These goals were based on a common knowledge that our world is faced with very many complex challenges, ranging from socio-economic, environmental challenges; and natural disasters. The 17 SDGs became operational since January, 2016," he recalled.
He described the forum as strategic, timely and relevant as it was coming at a period when Nigeria is making progress “in the war against extremism, terrorism, corruption, intolerance, insecurity, economic recession, unemployment and all sort of humanitarian crises.”
He called on all religions and their leaderships to recognize significance of advancing the awareness and knowledge of the SDGs by preaching peaceful co-existence and integration of all groups, engaging in conflict-resolution and peace-building and reminding citizens, followers and institutions leaderships including the political class and policy makers of their duties and responsibilities to fellow ones and the country and of course to their GOD among others.

Other presentations at the forum include “Concepts and History of Sustainable Development”; “Post-2015 Development Agenda Process – from MDGs to SDGs”; and “Religions’ Engagement in Sustainable Development and Problem-Solving: Improving Cooperation and Coordination among All”.
In his presentation, the National Coordinator, Thematic Issues and Solutions Initiatives (SDSN-Nigeria), SDDO, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, Dr Raheem Usman also urged full participation of religious leaders towards full realization of sustainable development goals, which, according to him, seek to end poverty, corruption, insecurities, fight injustice and inequalities and protect ecosystems among others.
In their response, various religious leaders who spoke at the forum unanimously agreed that religions are connected to development, citing verses of the scriptures to explain how GOD created man and the earth and their interactions to maintain balance in nature and the choice of man to be a prudent manager of resources.
They agreed that religions should be instrument of development in fostering peace and upholding justice among all irrespective of faith differences and pledged to work progress at all levels to disseminate as appropriate, the lessons and outcomes of the forum.