The Lagos State Government will host the 2020 Global Citizen Festival as part of efforts aimed at ensuring that Nigeria is not left behind in meeting the target of achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on SDGs and Investment, Mrs Solape Hammond who made the disclosure at a three-day strategy retreat organised by the Office for its staff at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, said the festival will feature 10-hour live broadcast of performances from celebrities from all over the world.
Hammond also said the State Government, through her office, has set machineries in motion towards aligning the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the present administration with the SDGs, especially to making Lagos a desirable investment destination.
T.H.E.M.E.S is an acronym which encapsulates the vision of Sanwo-Olu’s administration in Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy; Entertainment and Tourism; as well as Security and Governance.
According to Hammond, the retreat was aimed at fine-tuning the strategic direction of the Office since its name was changed from the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment to the Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment.
While maintaining that the retreat would also review the mandate, vision, mission as well as core values of the Office, Hammond applauded the vision of the Lagos State Government in creating a dedicated SDG champion at the cabinet-level, stating that Lagos is the only State with such model in the country.
She pointed out that the vision of the Office is all-encompassing but noted the need to fine-tune the mission to capture the expanded scope of the deliverables in terms of the SDG mandate.
The retreat reviewed the performance and achievements of the Office of SDGs and Investment and also presented an opportunity to discuss issues on unlocking investment partnerships and optimising investment opportunities in the State.
