The Lagos State Government has identified 10 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as top priorities in its push for inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and improved quality of life. The Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, made this known during a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Finnih explained that the goals were selected based on a framework that considered both impact and feasibility. They include Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals.
She noted that the focus on these goals is aligned with global practices, which encourage cities to prioritise based on local needs and potential for impact. According to her, these 10 SDGs offer Lagos the greatest opportunity to drive progress without sidelining the other goals, which remain integrated into broader state strategies.
Finnih highlighted the Office’s commitment to strategic partnerships, resource mobilisation, and evidence-based implementation, stressing that the approach aims to leave no one behind. She also revealed that the Lagos Sustainability Summit has produced a roadmap covering key areas such as climate adaptation, green jobs, inclusive development, and sustainable infrastructure.
Through its flagship Lighthouse Project, the SDGs Office has provided targeted interventions in education, healthcare, and sanitation to more than 800,000 residents in hard-to-reach communities. Finnih also announced that over 1,200 women in 12 underserved communities have been empowered with financial literacy, health insurance, and digital identification through partnerships with organisations like Opay, Cowrywise, and NIMC.
She said efforts to institutionalise the SDGs are underway in public institutions, with SDG Clubs already established in secondary schools and plans to extend them to primary schools. The Office has also trained 5,000 youth-led SMEs in digital skills and supported 3,400 households with temporary jobs under the NG-CARES programme.
Finnih added that the launch of the Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 Framework signals a shift toward data-driven, inter-agency collaboration. She described the UNDP’s designation of the Lagos SDGs Office as the Southwest’s SDGs Accelerator and Innovation Hub as a recognition of the state’s leadership in sustainable development.
Looking ahead, the Office plans to host the Second Lagos Sustainability Summit, expand its women’s financial inclusion programme, and launch a television programme focused on SDGs awareness. Other upcoming initiatives include a high-level breakfast meeting with diplomats and the deployment of a monitoring dashboard to track SDG progress across ministries.
Finnih emphasised that Goal 17, which focuses on partnerships, remains at the heart of Lagos’s strategy. She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all residents.
