SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL

NIGERIA AND THE QUEST FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Nigeria and the rest of the world on 23rd of September, 2015 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York adopted a post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) termed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which contains a 17 point action plan geared towards achieving Global Goals by 2030.

But there is a need for us to carefully and critically assess the MDGs so that we can have a clear path in pursuing the SDGs.

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015- form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions.

Goal 1- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

According to 2014 Millennium Development Goals Report of The United Nation, Nigeria sits third in the top five countries with the largest share of the global extreme poor (china- 32.9%, India-35.5%, Nigeria-8.9%, Bangladesh- 5.3%, Democratic Republic of Congo- 4.6%, other countries -35.5%) with about 100million Nigerians living below the poverty threshold (1.25$ per day).

Goal 2- Achieve universal primary education

The net enrolment rate for primary education for Sub-Saharan Africa has increased from 52% in 1990 to 78% in 2012 (2014 MDGs Report of UN) with Nigeria’s literacy rate estimated at 61% (US State Dept.) but the number of illiterates remains high despite rising literacy rates.

Goal 3- Promote gender equality and empower women

According to the 2014 MDGs report on MDGs, gender disparities are more prevalent at higher levels of education with Nigeria and the rest of the Sub-Saharan Africa having a gender parity index of 0.92% in primary education, 0.84% in secondary education and 0.64% in tertiary education.

Also, a 2012 DFID Gender Report suggests that about 80.2 million women and girls in Nigeria have significantly worse life chances than men and also their sisters in comparable societies.

Goal 4- Reduce Child Mortality

According to the 2014 UN report on MDGs, four out of every five deaths of children under age five continue to occur in Nigeria and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, the region has made remarkable progress since 1990, reducing child mortality rates by 45%.

It is worthy to note that preventable diseases are the main causes of under-five deaths, and almost half of under-five deaths occur during the neonatal period and of all the three remaining countries with endemic polio, Nigeria’s last reported case was 24 July, 2012 which prompted the world to remove Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic nations with only Afghanistan and Pakistan left. 

On the contrary, Nigeria is still prone to Measles with a total of 5189 reported cases in 2011(WHO), and it has been estimated that about 1.7 million children in Nigeria are still unprotected from the deadly disease.

Goal 5-Improve Maternal Health

Globally, the maternal mortality rate dropped by 45% between 1990 and 2013 from 380 deaths to 210 deaths per 100,000 live births.

But Nigeria is still among the nations with extreme maternal mortality with 40,000 maternal deaths alone in 2013 (14%). 

Only India has more maternal death than Nigeria with 50,000 maternal deaths (17%).

Most maternal deaths are preventable. There are well-known health-care solutions for the prevention and handling of complications.

Goal 6- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Even though, HIV prevalence is much lower in Nigeria when compared to other Africa countries such as South Africa and Zambia.

 In 2011 alone, approximately 210,000 people died from AIDS in Nigeria. The three main HIV transmission routes in Nigeria are Heterosexual sex, blood transfusion and mother-t-child transmission with an estimated 69,400 children newly infected with HIV in 2011. 

Worldwide, Nigeria has the second highest number of new infections reported each year, and an estimated 3.7% of the population are living with HIV.

 There’s a need to increase HIV prevention in Nigeria through better sex education for young people.

According to Nigeria Malaria Fact Sheet published in 2011 by the US Embassy, malaria is a major public health problem where it accounts for more cases and deaths than any other country in the world. Malaria is the third leading cause of death for children under five years and it is a risk for 97% of Nigeria’s population.

 There are an estimated 100million malaria cases with over 300,000 deaths per year in Nigeria which compares with 215,000deaths per year from HIV/AIDS. 

Therefore, urgent attention must be put in place using the four scientifically proven key interventions to prevent and treat malaria: Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying (IRS), intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women (IPT), and diagnosis and treatment.

Goal 7- Ensure Environmental Sustainability

In Lagos alone, 9,000 metric tonnes of waste is generated daily (LAWMA), and about 19000 tonnes of hazardous waste is produced annually in Nigeria and the waste comes mainly from steel, metal processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and oil refining industries. 

Also, environmental experts recorded about 125 slum communities.

Although, the Federal ministry of environment said Nigeria is set to reduce emissions and prevent average global temperature from rising above 2 degrees Celsius, still more still need to be done to ensure the environment is safe and clean by adopting more environmental-friendly technologies.

Goal 8- Develop a global partnership for development

In 2012 alone, Nigerian received about $336million in foreign aids from the United States with health aid scooping about $279,431,567 of the total sum.

 Other donor agencies also contributed huge sums of money to the country in the period under review. However, this has not contributed to any meaningful development hence the need for foreign aids to be coordinated and harmonized in Nigeria through administrative framework that has clearly identifiable focal point.

In conclusion, there is the need for relevant government agencies, NGOs, CSOs, private institutions and development partners to analyze critically with a view of correcting the pitfalls of MDGs and rigorously pursuing the SDGs with a renewed hope and tenacity, ensuring that by 2030, Nigeria is free from poverty and hunger. There is decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, good health and well being, quality education, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and peace, justice and strong institutions.

All these and many more can be achieved with adequate planning, accurate data and proper implementation.

Written by: OLUBODE Olabayonle Simeon

Twitter: Bhordemarz

INDEPENDENCE FLOW ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

Nigeria of our dream.

We slept but our eyes were opened , our imaginations gave us a direction, our desires were clear.

We woke up hoping our imaginations are already a reality, ALAS far from it the spirit whispered from within on the cold night.

Corruption has successfully crippled our Imaginations, Blindfolded the eyes of our supposed Savior and wise men, Hindered the bandwidth of progress and advancement, Hardened the heart of the good Samaritans.

The spirit of our founding fathers keep yelling from the great beyond "children our labor is about to be in vain, the evil you allowed has stolen our foundational dreams and aspirations. "

Our sage keeps telling us our land is blessed with milk and honey,

Yet the honey we have not tasted thereof.

Where is the milk flowing?

where is the honey flowing?

Arise oh Arise!

compatriots you must arise!

let all sleeping giants arise!

Tell it in the NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST.

ARISE COMPATRIOTS ARISE.

Its the dawn of a new beginning, where the rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy, the prisoner and the free men, the military and the democrats will be proud of the green white green.

The time has come to gladdening the hearts of our founding fathers with resounding assurance of victory, with resounding assurance of commitment, with an incomparable passion to defend our territories.

The times has come when the military and democrat, young and old, male and female will together in one voice fight the monster that has kept us long in bondage.

The time has come to regain the true NIGERIAN spirit.

The time has come when our anthems surely will inspire us to excellence.

The time has come to serve our father land with all our strength.

The time has come to uphold love and unity.

The time has come for the youth the truth to know and defend.

The change we seek for a prosperous Nigeria has come to stay.

The time has come when the youth will birth noble ideas that will catapult NIGERIA to the top sit in the world economy.

The time has come when Nigeria will regain her rightful position as a giant in Africa.

Nigeria will surely be great because dreams come true.

 Nigerians, the destiny of Nigeria is in our hands.

The task of making this world we have borrowed from our unborn generations a better place is work in progress and our actions we must vow will be in concert with our words.

We will not give up till our last breath.

MY DREAM NIGERIA , Where every NIGERIAN will be home anywhere they go.

Lets join hand and make Nigeria GREAT.

 GREATNESS IS IN US.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. HAPPY NEW MONTH

AGBOOLA BIYI M.

YOUNGEST GROWTH CONSULTANT

A NEW SHOT

When life challenges stares us in the face, People are tempted to give up cheaply like cowards do or better still turn to carry out routine exercise of seeking their maker. 

The latter sounds better and seems to be in concert with not giving up, but there is a new dimension to that act of not giving up that I would be sharing an insight into today.

Seeking the creator in troubled times is a very valid option because he alone is our essence and sustainer with whom lies all solution to life’s troubles.

But with seeking there is something I have found useful.

Your perspective to life challenges in troubled times determines to a large extent how quick you would overcome.

Victory and Excellence will always place a demand on you in troubled times for them to be achieved. 

And the demand most times is always taking a new shot.

Taking a new shot involves renewing the dominant image in the Imaginative faculty.

The Imaginative faculty is that part of the mind that translates words, ideas and impulses into Images in the Mind.

Just like the principle of a camera, I mean how it operates. As humans our minds with its different faculty also works as such.

There is always a dominant image in the Imagination, which will always determine to a large extent our physical reality. What you see with your spirit eye also referred to as the Imaginative Faculty of the mind will determine your physical reality.

The dominant image in the Imaginative faculty can only be changed by an insight into depths of revelation or wisdom, which can be gotten from words, impulses or ideas with which the mind is fed.

Let’s take a closer look at a camera and make a comparison with the mind.

When an object is focused by the lens and an image is taken on the film.

If the image taken is not liked or desired, no amount of prayer and fasting will change the Image on the film.

The thesis above I believe you strongly agree with. "NO AMOUNT OF PRAYER AND FASTING WILL CHANGE THE IMAGE ON FILM".

What will produce an Image entirely different from the old image is taking a new shot.

Here is the gist; sometimes what you need to overcome some challenges in life is not necessarily prayer and fasting. Get me right I am not saying Praying and Fasting is bad, but all I am saying is that sometimes you simply need to change the dominant IMAGE in your IMAGINATION.

Having done that, in concert with prayer and fasting you will surely overcome.

Are you currently under pressure?

Are you simply on the verge of giving up?

Does the challenge look insurmountable? 

The good news is that all the victory you will ever need is lying within your Imaginations. But you must see them yourself using your imaginative faculty. 

That moment you begin to see the victory in your imagination through the new shots you have taken, you will begin to really experience the victory in your physical reality.

JUST TAKING A NEW SHOT IS SOMETIMES THE ANSWER.

KEEP GROWING. 

Let’s go a step higher. YES WE CAN!

AGBOOLA BIYI MICHEAL

YOUNGEST GROWTH CONSULTANT

Facebook : agboola biyi

twitter : @agboolabiyi

bbm : 5330f104

LITTLE BEGINNING

A lot have been said of days of little beginning, yet much more I believe somethings still needs to be said about this particular subject matter.

Let me take you along with me on a date with memories.Some four years ago,  an event was organised in Ibadan and I was Invited to come and speak. I went there all dressed up and looking great. Just to find out that there were just three people sitted in a hall that has a capacity of about 80 people. 

There was light, there were microphones, there was music and many chairs.

Well well, I did what i was invited to do , and I left.

But guess what?

That was the very first time of me being in front of an audience as a motivational speaker.

It was really really a little beginning right? YES IT WAS.

That day i went back home with a mixed feeling; I was happy i delivered , and was sad I had three people as audience.

Looking back now, from that day, there has been tremendous progress and improvement. But trust me it was all in stages and gradual. I had been a speaker to an audience of 10, 15 and 20 people. 

But one thing is that I keep the bigger picture in my subconsious mind and do what I love doing with the whole of my heart.

 Recently, I have been getting invites from Secondary schools around the metropolis of the second largest city in Africa. And I have had an audience of close to a thousand people in a hall full to capacity and you know what it was power packed.

During the course of the week, I had a chat with a young man who works where am Currently undergoing my internship.

He his a graduate and trust me like they say, there are no jobs outside. 

He then passionately told me his ordeals in search of a living. At first he was a teacher in a secondary school. That pays the bills for a while. He still kept on pressing for better offers while holding on to the teaching job.

He then came across the company, and they were only recruiting security guards at that time. A graduate went ahead and apply. Luckily for him he was chosen.

You are like a graduate, a security guard! 

You will understand by and by. 

Well the pay was better off the teaching job he had earlier coupled with less stress too. So he took up the offer. Time went by and today he now works as a Chemical analyst in thesame company with a much better pay.

The days of speaking to an audience of 3,5,10 , the days of teaching with wages not even up to the minimum wage requirement by the law and the days of a graduate being a security guard were days of little beginning. 

Those days are getting more and more mature in QUALITY AND QUANTITY now.

Here is the gist; you have a vision, you are passionate about something, you want to do a business. And all you want to do is start out big. well it works sometimes but in most cases it does not.

Start in those ways that are little.

Are you a graduate!

You are waiting for that job offer that pays big. 

Its alright to have such desires, but while waiting for those times to come, while not engage yourself with the little offers. That young man whose story i shared with you earlier, never knew he was going to get his dream job while working 

as a security guard. 

What if he had neglected that little beginning?

In a short while if you tarry, those days will be a part of your success story. Which offcourse will help inspire some other folks somewhere someday.

"DO NOT DESPISE THE DAYS OF LITTLE BEGINNING, THEY ACCUMULATE TOGETHER TO FORM THE BIGGER DAYS."

Hold on in those days of little beginning, keep the bigger picture in your subconsious mind and give your very best everytime and soon the jackpot will be yours.

KEEP GROWING.

Lets go a step higher. YES WE CAN!

AGBOOLA BIYI MICHEAL

YOUNGEST GROWTH CONSULTANT

Facebook : agboola biyi

twitter : @agboolabiyi

bbm : 5330f104

DESIRES

As humans, at some point or the other in our lifes ,we have expectation and desires that we look forward to achieve.

Our desires and expectations when fulfilled bring to us some sense of fulfilment. 

Seeing our desires through is the focal point we will together be seeking an indepth understanding into today.

For couples of months now, I have experienced what and how it feels like to have a desire and see it through.

Having a desire is what i can refer to as a rough sketch or a plan on paper. 

Materializing desires therein lies the challenges.

About some three months ago, I had a desire to get a particular task done. The task to be done looks absolutely impossible even from the plan.

 But at some point i learned that having a Desire only is not sufficient to get me fulfillment.

I came to understand later on that there is such a thing as a "DEFINITE DESIRE".

When desires are definite, it makes it easier for their accomplishment. You must not only have Desires, your desires must be Definite.

 Having a definite desire is all that is required of us as human beings to see our desires come true. That is not True! 

I came to the understanding that there is a phenomenal attitude you must put into your definite desires to see them materialize.

This phenomenal attitude i refer to as "DOGGEDNESS WITH YOUR DEFINITE DESIRES".

Most times alot of discouragements and obstacles we encounter that makes our desires appears to be a mirage. But doggedness with our Definte desires is the password to see them materialize.

As long as you are breathing, You must have desires. But never limit your desires on the mere desire level, consciously make them DEFINITE.

When your desires are definite it makes it easier for you to materialize them.

Now get this right, that your desires are definite does not automatically translates them into your desired result. 

Sometimes you just need to endure some hardship , scale some heights and overcome seemly insurmountable obstacles. Being dogged with your definite desires will in a short while produce results for you.

Never stop hoping, do not give in to the present challenges, you have a desire to overcome, you have a desire to come out better, make your desires definite. Be dogged with your definite desires and just in a little while your desires will materialize.

I have seen this work for alot of people, infact its working for me. And i strongly believe it will work for YOU.

Remember, nothing in this world is big enough to hinder you from Being all you are designed to BE!

As you go this week, have a desire,

Make your desire definite,

Be dogged with your definite desire,

And see them being materialized.

DESIRE -> DEFINITE DESIRE -> DOGGEDNESS -> DESIRE MATERIALIZE

I LOVE YOU.

Lets go a step higher. YES WE CAN!

AGBOOLA BIYI MICHEAL

YOUNGEST GROWTH CONSULTANT

Facebook : agboola biyi

twitter : @agboolabiyi

bbm : 5330f104

BREAKING THE RULES

EVEN A LAITY CAN BE TRIUMPHANT.

For sometimes now i have been wondering and imagining how a laity can be so triumphant.

But I have soon discover that the secret lies in breaking the rules. Doing the unimaginable.

I have been studying the story of David and Goliath.

I am sure the story sounds so familair ,that you can even narrate the whole scenario as acted in screen plays and aminamations over the years.

However I took time out to learn and look objectively into this story, and I stumbled on some amazing facts I believe are worth sharing.

David happens to be the last born in a family of six children.

David is an hard working lad , who spares time out to sheperd his fathers flock while grazing.

Three of his brothers were in the army , fighting and defending the countrys terrritory.

David while watching over his fathers sheep in the forest encountered seemly insourmontable challenges that ordinarily would scare off a coward from being a sheperd the rest of his life.

David has on different occasions slew a lion and a bear.

What a courageous young man David is! A LION? A BEAR?

Sounds so scary even to me!

The killing of the lion and the bear to David then was just a challenge that confronted him while going about his daily activities.

Remember David could have chosen to run away at the sight of the lion back then in the forest.

And again a Bear came up. Thats quite tormenting in the forest for a young man like David.

After slaying the bear am sure if it were some other folks , they would have ignored the forest and the sheeps.

We have a lesson emphatically pronounced from the life of David here, David understood that challenges and set backs are unavoidable ,but they are temporal.

David had victory over the lion and the bear. 

What is symbolic to the lion and the bear in your life?

Do you run at the sight of their similitude or you wait to confront and defeat them?

On a fatefull day, David was sent by his father to visit his three brothers at the battle front. On getting there, David saw the blasphemy of the man who has been a warrior from his youth.

David was provoked and volunteered to battle with Goliath . His brothers were angry and threatened to send him home.

But David being a couragous young man sought to meet the king.

On meeting the king, the king doubted Davids ability to confront the philistine stating clearly that he has been a warrior from his youth and David has never been to a battle field.

David then immediately digged into his reserve. He then brought out his Capital . 

What was David's CAPITAL?

His capital was his past experiences of killing the Lion and the Bear.

This capital proved to be enough to be buy the kings Trust.

He got the kings permission to go and  fight onbehalf of the whole country. Knowing fully that once he his defeated the whole country is gone.

WHAT A RISK?

What a great investment and risk the king has taken to believe in a youth like David who has not fought a battle before, but has killed a Lion and a Bear.

David fought that battle and offcourse you and I know that he won and the country won.

WHAT THEN IS YOUR CAPITAL?

DO YOU CHICKEN OUT IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES OR YOU CONFRONT THEM TO DEFEAT THEM?

You must rise up and face your fears squarely, because you never can tell when your Little experiences will count as a Huge capital to catapualt you to where you desire.

Never stop trying, just stay focused and in a while your little experiences will be the required CAPITAL for your big dream. 

Remember the catch is in breaking the rules. Doing the seemly impossible task. Coming out of your hiding place to face your wosrt fears. 

And soon the world will celebrate you.

Lets go a step higher. YES WE CAN!

AGBOOLA BIYI MICHEAL

YOUNGEST GROWTH CONSULTANT

Facebook : agboola biyi

twitter : @agboolabiyi

bbm : 5330f104

MUCH LOVE! 

LIVING YOUR DREAM (PART 3)

As teenagers and even adults, we have come out to say we have a dream but the real question is how we came about that dream. 

Dreams in this context does not mean the thoughts that flow through your mind when you are having a nap or an actual sleep. Such dreams are engineered by events of the day or basically dance around the thoughts running through your mind minutes before the force of nature take its course.

Dream in our context here are your hopes and wishes, the structure with which you want events in your life to follow or where you want to be at a particular point in your life. 

One point that has been established is the fact that dreams come true. All it takes is knowing this dream and its applicability to your life.

But many have been eluded by how to know this dream, establishing what you see and how it matches up with their life. 

This part of living your dream gives a step by step guide of how to know this

 dream. Certain questions needs to be answered and set straight to help in knowing your dream. 

1. WHAT IS MY HOBBY?  

Every human have an hobby. In a funny but probably unfunny way, sleeping is a hobby.

 Numerous hobbies exist ranging from the popular ones, singing, dancing, reading, watching movies and many more. Taking a look at cooking and eating as hobbies, some may ask why eating could be an hobby. It depends on how you look at it. Eating could mean you have a penchant for tasting varieties of foods. This form of life can be turned to being a chef assessor. Yes, that is a profession (you could call them professional tasters), and people make great living out of it.

 Knowing what you love and enjoying it without external pressure could go a long way in helping you achieve this dream.

2. WHAT IS MY TALENT?

Aside from knowing your hobby, the desire and inclination for something is your talent. 

Here is a simple way of discovering your talent; gather five of your closest friends and ask them what your greatest asset is. 

This could go a long way in helping you achieve your dream.

3. WHO DO I WANT TO WORK WITH?

Every individual have an obvious set of people they love to be associated with. 

Using your intuition to guide you toward such people help you see clearer, who you are.

4. WHAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT DO I WANT TO WORK IN?

Individuals have different environments they adapt to. Some love working in the midst of other while some are the sole-riders.

Group work in most cases help in solving problems but when it brings unease, it is best to build a life that wouldn’t at all times put you in the midst of people.

5. WHAT ARE MY PASSION?

What exactly make you genuinely happy in life?

 Identify your passion and do everything in your power to do the thing you love.

 Once this is done, you can then ask yourself how you can turn the passion to work for you.

 Working in line with what you have a passion for help you take actions that others are not willing to take.

6. WHAT INSPIRES MY?

What encourages you, what drives you on could be books, websites, friends and family, cartoon series, or even a particular scenery. Try to get close to these.

 Inspiration serves as a driving key to achieve your life goals.

7. HOW DO I MOTIVATE MYSELF TO TAKE ACTIONS?

Being inspired is good but motivating yourself through the inspiration to make the positive change in your life is what moves you from your current position.

8. WHO DO I ADMIRE?

Seek inspiration in others you admire. Though the world is complicated, certain people have come out with outstanding clear cut results of chasing their dreams. 

Admiration does not mean you follow each and every step this person have taken, let them be a source of inspiration when you fail at something because at various points in life, road blocks will come up.

9. WHAT ARE MY WEAKNESS?

Trying to improve on that thing you scored low on is a way of working on your weaknesses since no one is perfect. 

Acknowledging the weakness and making steps to improve on it gives you an edge over those seeing it as a stumbling block.

10. HOW CAN I MAKE MYSELF BETTER?

A lot of trainings exist nowadays. As a student or even a graduate, being conversant with new software and idea gives you a great edge. Taking certificate exams, reading wider than what directly applies to your field pushes you ahead. 

Though often times not immediately applicable, but at one point or the other, these lessons help push you further.

These steps and many other steps help you in realising your dream. All it takes is setting aside times for thought and establishing which one directly applies to you.

 Put them in writing.

 Seeing them on a daily basis could serve as a motivation to push you, telling you daily that you have a target.

   

HAVE A DREAM, BUT DONT STOP THERE, BEGIN TO LIVE YOUR DREAM.

WRITTEN BY: ORHERHE EJIRO

Lets go a step higher, YES WE CAN.