By Dauda R Pam MAIDUGURI
Borno state Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum,on Friday (today)joined a panel of discussion on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the midst of conflict, to participate in a high-level side event in the on-going 74th United Nations General Assembly,UNGA,taking place in New York, United States of America.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Public Relations and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, indicated that Governor Zulum, arrived United States on Thursday, with a call for an action against the impacts of climate change in reference to,how lost of livelihoods, caused by receding of the Lake Chad has significantly contributed to the security challenges in Borno State and parts of the northeast.
According to the statement,Governor Zulum,was invited by the Chairman Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF),Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to be joined by permanent missions of Nigeria and Spain to the United Nations,as co-hosting the high level side event with the theme, “The Role of Subnational Governments in Achieving the SDGs and the Paris Agreement”.
The side event is also supported by the UN Global impact and Local 2030, a multi-stakeholder platform that supports delivery of SDGs to communities of UN member countries.
Also in attendance are two Governors,Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto, the NGF’s vice chairman, Governor of Ebonyi state and Africa’s regional director of the UN Development Programme in the first panel of the side event, the statement said.
lsa Gusau, was said to have quoted media reports linked to the NGF,and noted that, Professor Tijjani Muhammad-Bande,President of the 74th UN General Assembly as well as the UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed,are expected to speak during the side event at the UN headquarters.
Others to speak at the event are,Professor Jeffrey Sachs, an economist from Columbia University, Juan Pablo De LaigLasia, Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Kerry Adler, President and CEO of Skypower Global which is a ground-breaking solar power company that prides itself with building stronger economies and a cleaner environment by adding renewables to the energy mix.
Governor Zulum is expected to explore opportunities of attracting interventions to Borno State in order to maximize the benefits of his participation at the UN General Assembly.