Lagos Govt. Celebrates 10 Years of SDGs Impact

The Lagos State Government has celebrated a decade of transformative progress towards advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it marked the 10th Anniversary of the Lagos State Office of SDGs.

The event which doubled as part of the global observance of the SDG Week, brought together an impressive gathering of top government officials, development partners, NGOs, civil society organisations, the private sector, SDG Ambassadors, Volunteers, and key government stakeholders, all united in their shared commitment to sustainable development in Lagos State.

Delivering the anniversary address at the ceremony held at Marcellina’s Place, GRA, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, reflected on the remarkable institutional evolution of the SDGs Office over the past decade.

She traced its origins from its beginnings as the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment in 2015, through its transition into the Office of SDGs & Investment in 2019, to its re-establishment in 2023 as the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals, a transformation aligned with the THEMES Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to her, this carefully structured progression had strengthened the State’s capacity to integrate sustainable development into governance, planning, and service delivery.

She noted that Lagos has become a model within Africa for its ability to operationalise the SDGs at scale, with THEMES Plus translating the global goals into measurable actions across critical sectors such as transportation, healthcare, climate resilience, human capital development, education, and economic growth.

Dr. Finnih highlighted key achievements that defined the decade, including the State’s Voluntary Local Review (VLR), which showcased Lagos’ data-driven commitment to transparency and inclusive reporting.

She also celebrated the financial inclusion initiative for women in coastal and hard-to-reach communities, which has empowered thousands of women across Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Alimosho, Badagry, Agege, Mushin, and other LGAs with digital literacy, business support, and access to livelihood tools.

Other achievements spotlighted include the SDG Champions Programme, which embeds trained officers within MDAs to ensure SDG alignment in government operations; the SDG Volunteer Corps, which serves as the face of community-level SDG mobilisation; the Lagos Sustainability Summit, which has helped shape Lagos’ climate and green-growth agenda; and the creation of the Lagos Carbon Registry, a pioneering subnational carbon accounting framework for climate financing.

In her closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of SDGs, Mrs. Kaphayah Olayemi Sarumi, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all partners and participants, describing the anniversary as both a moment of reflection and a renewed call to action.

Mrs. Sarumi reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to deepening collaboration across sectors, deploying advanced data systems, building capacity within MDAs, and accelerating community-focused programmes that deliver tangible improvements to lives across Lagos.

The Permanent Secretary commended the award recipients for their exemplary service and urged them to continue championing the SDGs within their spheres of influence. She also lauded the Special Adviser, management staff, technical partners, volunteers, and media teams for their joint efforts in delivering a successful anniversary celebration.

One of the high points of the event was the presentation of Special Recognition Awards to individuals and partners whose contributions have significantly advanced the SDGs at the grassroots. The awardees were celebrated for their innovation, dedication, and community service. Their roles, according to the SDGs office, have helped strengthen the SDGs framework in Lagos and ensured that development touches even the most underserved communities.

The historic ceremony also featured a documentary showcase chronicling the 10-year journey, an insightful technical presentation on the evolution of the SDGs Office, interactive SDG trivia sessions, and networking engagements that allowed stakeholders to exchange ideas on the future of SDGs in the State.

OYO NEWS