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Enugu state Government, has commenced capacity building for Sustainable Development Goals'( SDGs’) Coordinating teachers in secondary scholls in the state to serve as coordinators and advocates to student members of the newly established SDGs’ clubs in the secondary schools in the state.
Speaking during the flag -off of the program for Enugu East senatorial zone held at the SDGs Skills Acquisition Center ,Uwani ,Enugu, the SDG Focal person and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Onyinye Akubuilo -Okoalanma said, the 2030 global agenda is a universal call to action to achieve the 5 P’s (Peace and Prosperity for People and our Planet through strategic and effective Partnerships).
Pix: Participants
She said given that the SDGs itself is based on the principle of “Leave No One Behind”, the need to change the narrative and substantially achieve inclusiveness and a sustainable society becomes inevitable.
According to her, Enugu state Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) observed that there is poor awareness of the SDGs among students and teachers in secondary schools, hence ,
the SDGs office in partnership with the Post-Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB) commenced the establishment of SDGs clubs in government -owned secondary schools inorder to achieve the SDGs’ objectives.
Pix: The guests at the event
“The clubs are designed to be an avenue to create awareness, advocate and sensitize our school communities on the SDGs and to get them to take meaningful actions geared at achieving the SDGs in their own little corners
“It is very important that we foster a culture of awareness on the global development program and to set pro-active engagement within our schools especially as the developmental agenda of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Pix: Focal person/ SSA on SDGs, Mrs Onyinye Akubuilo -Okoalanma
“The SDGs clubs are effectively being coordinated by teachers who are aware, knowledgeable and have the ability to translate the SDGs into required action*, She said..
The focal person said 298 teachers representing one teacher per government- secondary school in the state were set to be trained.
She added that there were 50 teachers from all the state owned secondary schools in Enugu North , Enugu East, Isi-Uzo and Enugu South Local Government Areas. The training for teachers from other educational zones is scheduled to take place in respective zones at a later date.
Pix; Participants
Okparanma informed participants that the 2-day physical training program will continue online and that was why they requested the Principals to nominate teachers that were dedicated and possess internet-enabled phones to coordinate the SDGs Clubs . She added that the school principals would from time to time monitor the clubs to be sure the set objectives were achieved.
The state SDG office from time to time will also monitor the clubs
The SDG Focal person told the teachers that they were selected to be SDG advocates and to take the message of the global goals to the students
Declaring the training open,the member representing Igbo-Etiti West state constituency and House Committee Chairman on Poverty Eradication, SDGs and NGOs, Hon Williams Amuka , said the aim of the training was to take the message and goals of SDGs down to school children for them to understand their objectives. He explained that it will make implementation of SDGs programs andeasy because the children must have understood what the program is all about
The Lawmaker commended the State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah’ for approving the program and for having interest in changing the narrative in the education sector,
He urged participants to participate actively in the training and step down the training to school children.
He disclosed that the State House of Assembly through the committee on SDGs had taken a bold step to sensitize the public on the need for aforestation (tree planting) and have also made fruitful moves to ensure adequate rural electrification which are parts of the 17 SDG areas of action.
In a Goodwill message, m an deember representing Enugu South Rural Constituency, Hon. Obiajulu Princess Ugwu represented by her Personal Assistant, Nwachukwu Austine, said tHon Ugwu was particular about gender equality and quality education.
She said the progress and development of every nation depends on teachers
Hon Ugwu commended the organizers of the program and urged the participants to take the message down to the grassroots, “door to door.”
Pix: Participants
The program had in attendance over 50 participants representing all the state-owned secondary schools in Enugu North, Enugu East, Isi-Uzo and Enugu South Local Government Areas.
Top management staff of the Post-Primary School Management Board (PPS1MB), Enugu were present at the training program.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama