LAGOS STATE BEGINS VOLUNTARY LOCAL REVIEW, TO HASTEN SDGs ACHIEVEMENTS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
….. VLR will give lagos state govt and LGAs the opportunity to review data, statistics for future development
The Lagos State government launched a scheme known as Voluntary Local Review (VLR), which is a peer review process for the execution of SDG programmes in the state, with the goal of expediting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on SDG, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, made this known while giving her speech on Tuesday at the Validation Workshop of the Lagos State Voluntary Local Review in the Ikeja area of the state.
The goal of the VLR SDGs peer review programme according to her, is to enable the state to offer unbiased perspectives and helpful feedback mechanisms in order to narrow gaps and present chances for the SDGs to be achieved.
Finnih added that with the help of the VLR project, the state will be able to take the lead in realizing the global agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals, while also offering a forum for assessing advancements, exchanging insights, and gaining knowledge from nearby communities and development associations.
“This highly anticipated workshop marks a pivotal moment in our collective journey toward achieving the global goals as well as co-creating an inclusive, just, and prosperous future for all residents of Lagos State,” Finnih said.
She claims that Lagos, being the first state in Nigeria to create the office of SDGs as a cabinet office and integrate the framework into its development plans, has actively pushed localization of the SDGs.
“It is imperative at this juncture to note that since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, Lagos has ambitiously moved to pursue this transformative global agenda with the vigour it deserves,” Finnih said.
The SA asserted that the VLR validation workshop was extremely important for Lagos’s and the nation’s future.
According to her, the state acknowledged that the VLR was a procedure by which the government evaluates its accomplishments and areas for improvement in putting the SDGs into practice through an inclusive process that includes all pertinent actors.
According to Oladotun Olakanle, executive chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, the state government and LCDAs will have the chance to examine the data and statistics that are currently accessible in order to estimate future development and its impact on the populace.
“My local government is already a beneficiary of the SDG agenda in Lagos. About 1700 personnel have benefitted from one program or the other initiated by the SDG.”
“There are those who were attached to the Neighborhood Watch, LAWMA, to assist the state government as well as the local government in ensuring that our environment is monitored.”
“Those attached to the Neighborhood Safety Corps have been assisting the community in ensuring that ‘when you see, you say something’ and on the long run, it’s been been beneficial because the totality of the involvement has added value to the government at grassroot,” he added.
Olakanle advised everyone to continue to take advantage of every opportunity in other to take the State, LGAs as well as the centers to the next level.
The Assistant Head of Monitoring and Evaluation in the Office of SDGs and Investment, Olukotun Owoseni, stated that VLR helps to see how the SDGs have been localized and brought into the planning and execution process.
He added that the 2030 agenda encourages member states to conduct a regular and inclusive review of the progress at Nationals and Sub-National levels while calling on major groups, stakeholders, including local authorities to report on their contributions for the implementation of the agenda.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Oyebade Olusola, in her closing remark thanked the Gov. babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Dr. Finnih for their strong support towards the success of the program.
She also appreciated the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Oshodi, the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs, United Nations Development Program, National Bureau of Statistics, Stakeholders amongst others for all their contributions in spite of their busy schedule.
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