By Our Correspondent
National News – The United Nations has emphasized that women’s empowerment is central to driving sustainable development in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Lions Day with the United Nations (LDUN) ceremony on Thursday in Abuja, the acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of UN Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah, highlighted the role of gender equality in achieving global development goals.
She was represented at the event by Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria.
Attafuah explained that LDUN is more than an annual celebration; it is a reminder of the longstanding collaboration between the UN and community organizations that dates back to 1945, when the United Nations was founded.
She stressed that global challenges such as climate change, migration, public health crises, rising instability, gender-based violence, and women’s under-representation in leadership require urgent attention.
“Accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 is achievable through education, digital connectivity, food security, energy access, job creation, social protection, and environmental sustainability,” she said.
She added that women’s leadership is essential in addressing these challenges. “Peace, development, and human rights cannot be realized without women shaping solutions at all levels,” Attafuah noted.
The UN’s partnership with Lions International, which has supported programs with UNICEF, WHO, and UNESCO, demonstrates the impact of combining global frameworks with local initiatives to reach grassroots communities effectively.
Dr Ibrahim Bello, Multiple Council Chairperson of Lions International, affirmed the importance of collaboration, highlighting Nigeria’s potential for innovation and community-led solutions, especially by women and youth.
“Global institutions provide frameworks, but organizations like Lions translate ideals into real impact within communities,” Bello said, emphasizing the significance of partnerships in empowering vulnerable populations and achieving SDGs.
