UNESCO Urges African Countries On Achieving SDGs By 2030

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has urged all continents, including Africa, to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Dr Enang Moma, a representative of the UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja revealed this during an interview on Monday.

Dr Dimitri Sanga, the Director of the regional offices in Dakar and Abuja was represented by Moma who said that the UNESCO Science Report of 2021 deemed it essential for nations to achieve their SDGs by 2030.

For their future economic competitiveness, according to Moma, nations urgently need to make the transition to digital, environmentally friendly societies that are driven by science, technology, and innovation (STI).

She claimed that STIs were widely acknowledged as important forces behind the reduction of poverty and crucial elements in reaching the SDGs.

“However, to make STI work for society, appropriate STI policy frameworks and collaborative approaches need to be developed and reinforced,” Moma said.

The UNESCO official said, ”it is imperative now than ever to use STI for competitiveness, strengthening and building regional scientific cooperation among scientists, policymakers, industries among others for a multi-dimensional approach.

"In this regard, UNESCO supports member states’ efforts to reform and upgrade national STI systems and governance.

“Ultimately, stronger STI systems will enable African societies to attain greater inclusivity and resilience through enhanced capacity to achieve SDGs and the African Union 2063 Development Agenda.”

She continued by saying that UNESCO was totally dedicated to helping nations use open science, distance learning, and knowledge sharing as a tool for cooperation.

According to Moma, UNESCO is advancing open access to scientific research and data and fostering collaboration between researchers and scholars to get quicker, better results.

"Open science is a true game changer in bridging the STI gaps and a critical accelerator for the achievement of competitiveness and sustainable development goals (Agenda 2030).”