(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Diginitaries-300x166.jpg) Nigeria has been selected as the only African country to represent the continent at the substantive session of United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC) Annual Ministerial Review, AMR coming up in June in Geneva Switzerland and this has been described as strategic.
This position was made known by the Senior Economic Affairs Officer, UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs, DESA, New York, Eric Olson, while presenting a paper on the objectives of the ECOSOC NVP at the stakeholders' dialogue organized by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs to review the National report on Nigeria's progress on the Internationally Agreed Development Goals held in Abuja on Thursday, 4 April, 2013.
According to Eric Olson, who was visiting the Nigeria for the first time, the selection of Nigeria is indicative of the influence of the country in Africa especially as the discussion enables the council to play a key role in fostering international cooperation for development and in setting priorities for action. He reaffirmed the commitment of Department of Economic and Social Commission to assist Nigeria in achieving the global development goals and enjoined all stakeholders to give useful contribution to the preparation of the National report.
In the same vein, the Resident coordinator of the UN system in Nigeria, Dauda Toure represented by the Economic Advisor, Colleen Zamba praised the efforts of the Federal Government directed at the actualization of the MDGs in the country. "The UN system in Nigeria is very pleased to be associated with the efforts of the government to produce these reports."
Speaking further, the UN System Resident Coordinator reiterated that globally, there are convincing evidence that significant strides have been made towards the attainment of many of the MDGs.
Mr Dauda Toure also said that in Nigeria however, a lot of p0.
rogress has also been made and in his words stressed, "We have seen government commitments through the articulation of institutional and policy frameworks including the countdown strategy, Vision 2020, National Implementation Plan and innovative programs such as the Conditional Grants Schemes, among others."
Dr. Precious Gbeneol, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals, OSSAP-MDGs will present Nigeria NVP at the substantive session of United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC) Annual Ministerial Review, AMR coming up in June.
In her welcome address at the Stakeholders workshop on National Voluntary Presentations Dr. Gbeneol noted that the forum provides opportunity for stakeholders to review the progress and challenges being faced in the implementation of the MDGs in Nigeria.
As such, she informed the gathering of stakeholders that the national report will be compiled from contributions at the forum adding that the report will also highlight progress made in the implementation of national development strategies and policies, key challenges and lessons learned and an assessment of international development cooperation and the support of the international community, including the UN system, for scaling up efforts.
ECOSOC initiated the AMR mechanism for the international community to assess and advance progress towards the IADGs), which includes the MDGs in 2007. National reports are created, which are then presented through the NVPs presentations during the AMR. A total of 44 developed and developing countries have shared their experience through the platform since inception.
The two day forum is being attended by stakeholders from MDGs sectors across the 36 states of the federation, International Development partners, and members of Civil Society Organisations as well as officials of relevant MDAs at the federal level.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria
That is very very good i must say. Great news for a country like Nigeria. This should happen frequently