United Nations (UN) has commended Enugu state Government’s leadership style
and developmental strides within Governor Peter Mbah’s one year in office, decorating the Governor , the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) Champion.
United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Malick Fall gave the commendation and the Award ,Friday, July 12, 2024, during his working visit to Enugu state.
Pix: Gov Mbah (L) being decorated SDGs Champion by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohammed Fall( R)
Addressing newsmen after his meeting with the State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah and members of the State Executive Council, on ” Priorities and Vision for Nigeria”, at Government House, Enugu, the United Nations Representative said, he came to Nigeria when the company was facing so many challenges which was making it difficult for the International Community to keep it’s promises to the people.
He described Governor Mbah as a visionary leader, saying he came to see the vision and model of leadership being used by the Governor. He disclosed that the leadership model llan be shared among countries and continents
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said development is not all about money but about vision, leadership, drive, rigorous planning and discipline to monitor the projects.
He commended Governor Mbah for his efforts in the development of education, saying, the Governor increased the education budget from 7 percent to 33 percent. , and also moved the state water supply from 2 million to 100 litres per day.
The UN representative , who arrived Akanu Ibiam International Airport,Enugu at 7:58 am in Air Peace , aircrafts and was received by the Secretary to the State Government,Pro Chidiebere Onyia and his team, attributed the successes recorded so far by Governor Mbah within one year in office to robustness, effectiveness, efficiency in the method and management that were put in place,.
Fall said Africa was tired of wars and other depressing stories, and saw the need to celebrate and support leadership models anywhere on the continent that show the vision, drive, discipline, rigorous planning, and improved efficiency to change the narratives and inspire hope.
Pix: The meeting with state executive members
He noted the challenges faced by the international communities in meeting up with their commitments to the people. Fall lamented that with only six years left to attain the SDGs by 2030, many nations, including Nigeria, still struggle with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“We are fed up with having states (nations) that keep having problems in conflicts and fighting. That is why every success recorded here (in Enugu) will come to change the narrative about Nigeria and Africa, and we will all be proud of it.
“I think in these difficulties and a very gloomy backdrop, there are still leaders, who go out of their ways and try to bring wellbeing for their people. I think those should be showcased to create a kind of healthy competition, and create a blueprint for other leaders.
“That is why this (Mbah’s) leadership galvanised me. I have found exactly what we need in the African Continent and in the United Nations,” he said.
“We have governors that are younger. You have governors that are extremely committed. You have governors, who have their hands on the deck. You have governors, who have such a good appetite for improving the wellbeing of their people and I think Enugu is one of those examples.
Pix: Gov Mbah
The UN Representative commended in particular Governor Mbah’s strides in education, healthcare, water and other critical sectors, noting the governor’s ability to block leakages and waste to improve efficiency in a very short time.
“We had a conversation around education, around health, around social protection and how to alleviate poverty, how to support women who spend their day struggling to earn a little to bring back to their families, how to support civil servants, whose salaries cannot cope with the price increase the country is facing.
“Among all these, what impresses me most is the governor’s commitment to deliver. For example, in a short tenure, we see how much access to water has improved during the first to six months of his tenure.
“The good part of our discussion is the investments in education, and I happened to have served in the education sector for about 20 years of my life. I understand that today’s wealth is not what you have on the ground. Today’s wealth is not the amount of cash or hard currency you have as a reserve. Today’s wealth for any community, any society, any nation is human capital. It is the way you train your children and equip them with the knowledge that they need for the 21st century,” he said.
Pix- State Government ‘s delegation led by the SSG,Prof Onyia awaiting the arrival of the UN team
Fall explained that Nigeria remained an important example for the rest of Africa, hence the need to support any good example emanating from the country.
“That is why an example of the initiative we have seen in Enugu State is also important for not only Nigeria, but beyond. The reason I am saying it is not because Enugu State is the biggest in demography with seven million people, if you compare it with Lagos State which is 25 million. It is not because it is the richest, but because I have a belief that development is not all about money. Development is about vision, leadership, drive, planning, discipline to follow and monitor those plans. If you put together those criteria, they are the defining factors that make development happen,” he said.
Pix- Gov Mbah
In his speech, Enugu state Governor, Mbah, while appreciating the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, for the honour and visit, reiterated his administration’s commitment to better the lives of the people of the state through the SDGs and disruptive thinking.
“In the buildup to the election, we took the view of Enugu State that we have to work towards in order to join the rest of the world in being measured by the SDGs. If you look at the manifesto, a lot of the promises were inspired and influenced by the SDGs.
“We knew that if we go by the operating method practiced over the years, we won’t be able to meet up. We felt that we needed to innovatively disrupt the status-quo by doing things differently. And this is just the beginning, as we are poised to do more” he said.
Governor Mbah reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that governance gets to the last man in the state, stating that a lot of interventions by his administration were largely for the local communities.
He said while the state government brings 60 percent of the funds for the construction of the healthcare facilities across the 260 wards, the local governments are to bring the remaining 40 percent, but noted that the green smart schools are being singlehandedly funded by the state government to enable children to enjoy quality education as could be obtained in the developed countries.
Pix- Fall and team at Enugu state Smart Green school,Owo campus
Meanwhile, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, took a tour of facilities at the Enugu State Smart Green school,Owo Campus. Accompanied by the Commissioner for Education,Prof Ndubueze Mbah , the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro- Industrialization, Patrick Ubru and Special Adviser, Dubem Onyia ,Jnr. Fall visited the classrooms( Nursery,Primary, and secondary ) sections, Information and Communications Technology ( ICT) library, Digital creativity Hub, Imagination Hub, Science Laboratory, Smart Green school farm,sick bay among others.
Pix: Smart Green school blocks
Speaking to newsmen on his impression about what he saw on ground, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said:
” It is a place of joy. It’s in that context that the learning environment becomes conducive. That’s what I have seen and am really grateful Am looking out for model that I can show to some parts of Nigeria and some parts of Africa. That’s what really was my gain of today’s visit “.
Author-Maureen Ikpeama