24 August 2015: During an official visit to Nigeria, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed ways in which state governors can contribute to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He also met with Nigeria’s business and philanthropy leaders to address their role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing climate change. The visit took place from 23-24 August 2015, in Abuja, Nigeria.

On 23 August, during a meeting with Nigeria’s state governors, the UN Secretary-General stressed that state governors play a “fundamental role” in shaping the future of Nigeria by implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He identified ways in which they could do that through: tailoring the universal framework to national circumstances; engaging local civil society organizations and the private sector in the implementation of the SDGs at the local level; ensuring that the limited available funds are targeted at the most vulnerable and marginalized who are often hard to reach, in particular ensuring health, education, empowerment and equality for women and girls; institutionalizing gender mainstreaming across all government ministries and bodies responsible for implementing agenda 2030, with effective means of implementation (MOI) and capacities for monitoring progress; supporting the follow-up and review process by “feeding inputs” directly into the review and by helping to ensure the quality of data by investing in institutions; and using big data to inform better planning and decision making.

On 24 August, Ban met with Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria. They discussed issues covering development, human rights and peace and security, including the levels of violence and terror perpetrated by Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria and in the sub-region. He underlined how development deficits, such as economic marginalization, lack of opportunities and climate stress, have aggravated security challenges, noting that the Boko Haram insurgency “emerged from the seeds of grievances.” He underlined the need to address “the development challenge […] by tackling the root causes and implementing the SDGs,” adding that the UN stands ready to respond to the increasing humanitarian challenges associated with Boko Haram violence, and requesting his UN team to scale up humanitarian presence.

On 24 August, the Secretary-General also met with Nigeria’s business and philanthropy leaders during an event on ‘The Role of Nigerian Business and Philanthropy in Implementing the SDGs and Addressing Climate Change.’ Ban noted that the SDGs provide a platform for aligning private action and public policies for common good, and that “they are everyone’s business, everywhere.” He pointed to the co-benefits of addressing climate change, including for health, cleaner air, national security, energy and food security. He stated that business leaders and philanthropists are drivers of economic and social transformation, having built their success by innovating solutions to various social needs. Ban recognized the role of business in helping improve living standards, but cautioned that “the world does not need business as usual.” Instead, he called on business to “put people and the planet at the centre of what we do — underpinned by universal human rights.” He further highlighted the work of the UN Global Compact in this regard.

Ban announced that his office is currently strengthening outreach to philanthropists, particularly from the South, to build “a strong coalition of locally focused but globally minded actors,” and invited the Nigerian business and philanthropy leaders to join the global coalition, mobilize their peers, and define concrete objectives and clear timetables. “I look forward to receiving a coordinated plan of action from you. I have instructed my office to work closely with you to help make this happen,” the Secretary-General concluded. [UN Press Release – Meeting with the State Governors] [Secretary-General’s Remarks – Meeting with the State Governors] [UN Press Release – Meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari] [Secretary-General’s Remarks – Meeting with the Business Sector]