ABUJA (IPCR Report) – The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), has appealed for autonomy of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG) during the forthcoming review in 2020.
The Director General of the Institute, Prof. Bakut T. Bakut, made this known in Abuja, while speaking at the workshop organized by the IPCR in partnership with Center for Sustainable Development and Education in Africa for the National Working Group on Peace and Security in Nigeria.
According to him, this was done because of the Institute’s mandate to promote peace and resolve conflict in Nigeria and Africa. He said, “SDG16 seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all as well as build effective accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”
He revealed that as the country is planning for 2020 review of the SDG 16, the Institute wishes to appeal to Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDG to treat SDG 16 as a stand-alone or cross cutting goal in the 2020 voluntary review.
He further explained that the workshop was meant to explore other peace building framework in Nigeria such as United Nation Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 and how they can serve as enablers to the implementation of the SDG 16 as well as other SDGs’ programme in Nigeria.
The representative from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Dr. Bala Inusa, said in his remark that Nigeria is working at National and Sub National levels to ensure peace and security in the country.
He said, SDG16 is interrelated with the remaining SDGs, adding that, there must be peaceful atmosphere before any other can be implemented.
The Chairman of the occasion, Peace and Development Advisor, UN System in Nigeria, Takwa Zebulon Suifor, said the objectives of the workshop was for the National Working Group to brainstorm on the need to allow SDG 16 to stand on its own during the forthcoming review in 2020, as they are the key stakeholder in maintaining peace and security in the country.
