EMPOWERING GLOBAL CITIZENS: A CALL TO ACTION FOR SDGs

Let's have a crash paragraph, not a course, of course, about SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). The concept was born in Dakar in 2015 with 100+ countries as a follow up to the then MDGs (Millenium Development Goals). The central theme of the SDGs is to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity which are broken down into 17 goals for easier implementation.

The observation was that there was enough food to feed everyone, enough riches to eliminate poverty and we could minimize the damages caused by adversity of climate, yet people were not generous enough to share the food, their riches and to adopt necessary practices that could reduce the adverse of climate abnormalities. Rather, people were more concerned on themselves, chasing unnecessary needs while paying no heed to others around them that lack the basic necessities.

This, therefore, brought up the idea of the SDGs breaking them into simpler, realizable and workable 17 goals which aimed to be achieved on or before 2030 throughout the globe. The 17 SDGs are in summary:

1. No Poverty

2. Zero Hunger

3. Good Health and Well-being

4. Quality Education

5. Gender Equality

6. Clean Water and Sanitation

7. Affordable and Clean Energy

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

10. Reduced Inequalities

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

13. Climate Action

14. Life Below Water

15. Life on Land

16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

17. Partnerships for the Goals

Over the weekend, we witnessed a Call to Action of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Global Citizens by Ideas and Data Global Academy (IDGA). These were 70 students that are into SDGs, trained (and will continue to receive further trainings), to enable them to replicate the SDGs in their immediate environment. A career path commissioned for them to make all the impact needed that will attribute to the realization of the above mentioned goals.

This singular action unlocked the potentials in these gentlemen and ladies to pour their hearts out in action for their societies. The beauty about this is that you must not make it a spectacular in the beginning, it's all about making the impact in your immediate environment no matter how little you may perceive it. Start from your family, brand yourself as a solution provider in times of need, as little as assisting your siblings with assignments, career guidance, keeping your house/hostel clean, smiling to your neighbours, staying away from gossip, helping the needy with as little as nice words if you don't have, imbibing the habit of suspending greediness at the expense of glorifying community service, taking care of the planet in your own little ways, etc and advocate for same.

It's also of paramount important to note that government cannot and will not do it alone, for they lack the resources, and staff; therefore, be benevolent enough to mobilize resources to solve community challenges. That's what Global Citizen is known for.

The emphasis is on making an impact, 1/100 is always a great stride in this journey for it's better than zero and do not, I repeat, do not hesitate to see your contribution as inconsequential. What you term as little, is a life saver for another.

Ladies and gentlemen, what this Academy is doing is truly mind-blowing, it will interest you to know that recently it has trained 10 female photographers in partnership with Abdulwahab Said Ahmad (Blue - Lens Multimedia) currently undergoing professional apprenticeship, equipped with computers and cameras for each. This will empower them, at the same time creating solution for exclusive female events to comfortably enjoy the presence of female photographers. This is quite remarkable! In another development, another training was done for Amadu Bello University (ABU) SDG hub with over 200 students charting a course of producing more set of Global Citizens that will dedicate their life to providing solutions to humanity, courtesy of this Academy. This truly is another noble milestone.

There's no doubt the best among us are those that benefit the people most. I am also particularly glad to have the privilege of been among the facilitators for the BUK SDG hub where I talked about 'Building Resilience and Competence' which happens to be a lifeline in the SDG advocacy journey; alongside Salim Wada, Amina Manzo, Yusuf Umar, Kabir Bahaushe and Mal. Mustapha Shehu.

Listening to the founder of this Academy Malam Mustapha Shehu (@talk2mshehu) will always make you question your efforts, instill a fresh advocacy energy in you, ignite a fire within you that will motivate you to up your game by spreading your impacts far and wide. You cannot just have enough of him. May Allah SWT continue to bless him, amin!

Be an SDG advocate today, choose any of the goal that resonate with your interest and let's together make the world a better place, through sharing the little you have, let the positive energy move around.