The translation of SDGs goals to Yoruba, which was unveiled on Wednesday in Ibadan at the ancient Mapo hall, was also witnessed by culture enthusiasts, traditional rulers, diplomats, socio-cultural groups, market men and women, traders and members of the Oyo State Executive Council.

In his address at the launch organized by the state government in collaboration with United Nations Information Centre, Lagos (UNIC), United Nations, Association of Nigeria (UNAN), Initiative for Information, Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria (IACD) and Development Agenda of Western Nigeria (DAWN), Governor Abiola Ajimobi described the launch as historic, saying that this is the first translation of SDGs goals to local language in the country.

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The state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, represented by the his Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, averred that the translation of the goals will resonate with the people at the grassroots who are the actual targets of the SDGs in the pro poor projects.

According to the governor, “today’s event is significant as the translated SDGs goals is meant to penetrate the grassroots for better understanding, better appreciation as well as buy in and cooperation in terms of achieving the goals. Hitherto, it has been in English Language and you know, for example here in Oyo State, Yoruba is the language and the United Nations thought that for the goals to be understood by the people, we need to translate it to the local languages.

“Today is also historic because this is the first time that it is being launched in Nigeria, and it is starting from Oyo State. We ensured that the South West launch, which is the first in Nigeria, was done in Oyo State, the cradle of Yoruba race and the epicenter of the South West,” the governor said.

Governor Ajimobi further said his administration has embarked on many projects at the grassroots level under the SDGs in the areas of education, health, youths and women empowerment, pledging that the government will continue to ensure that the local communities benefit from the UN SDGs programmes.

Remarking, the Chairman, State Implementation Committee of SDGs, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi disclosed that the state government recently provided 15 motorized boreholes for markets across the state, noting that school facilities like structures and teaching aids, health facilities as well as empowerment programmes for the youths and women have also been executed.

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The United Nation’s representative at the event who is also the Director United Nations Information Center (UNIC), Dr. Ronald Kayanja appreciated the Oyo State government for the launch of the translation of the UN SDGs document to Yoruba, saying that the effort was important to make positive impact on the people.

Kayanja said, “The United Nations recognizes the importance of protecting our mother languages as our heritage. The UN Assembly has put emphasis on the use of people’s native languages to communicate important messages that enable us live together in peace and prosperity.

“We want to see a world free of poverty, hunger, disease and lack, where all lives can thrive. We envisage a world free of fear and violence. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets contained in this document demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal agenda. This is why this event, the launch of the Yoruba language SDGs is of great importance,” the UNIC Director added.

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The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Bamiji Ojo, in his speech extolled the goodness in the event, which he said afforded the people the freedom to freely express themselves in their local language.

Chief Ojo hinted that the success of any administration or people in leadership positions were attached to the use of mother tongue in communicating policies and programs of government to the people, adding that only the late Chief Bola Ige and the present administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi achieved such.

“Imagine somebody telling you about ending poverty and using foreign language. When you get home and you cannot explain what you were told here, it means the communication channel has failed. The awakening has shown that previous administrations also have programs and policies but lack proper implementation. So if really we want development, we should always put people who love and make good use of Yoruba language in government and leadership positions. We have such example in late Chief Bola Ige and Governor Abiola Ajimobi,” he said.

The post When Oyo Unveiled First Translation of SDGs Document first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post When Oyo Unveiled First Translation of SDGs Document appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The launch which is a collaboration of United Nations Information Centre, Lagos (UNIC), United Nations Association of Nigeria (UNAN), Initiative for Information, Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria (IACD) and the state government will hold at Mapo Hall, South East Local government area of the state.

The translation of the UN SDGs goal to Yoruba is to simplify the objectives of the SDGs in executing and implementing some pro-poor projects and programmes under the Conditional Grants Scheme which are targeted for the people at the grassroots.

The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun said that the Development Agenda of Western Nigeria (DAWN) is also being collaborated with to ensure that the translated 17 SDGs goals and the action plan for implementation is circulated among the Yoruba speaking states of the South West part of the country.

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Arulogun explained that the process of implementing the SDGs goals require that the language is localized for the people to have better understanding of it, stating that the SDGs have been translated in the four indigenous languages of Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Pidgin.

According to him, “Nigeria is a signatory to the UN Charter of 2030. The goals should be achieved by 2030 and they are stated in English due to UN official language. The process of implementation requires that the language should be localized. The translation is necessary in order to have a better understanding of the 17 goals of the UN SDG for effective communication on the implementation of the goals.”

He said that the programme, which will chaired by Chief Bamiji Ojo will have in attendance the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on SDGs, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria Edward Kallon, the Director, United Nation Information Centre (UNIC), Mr. Ronald Kayanja, the President of the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Iyalode Alaba Lawson and the President of UN Association of Nigeria  and the DG NACCIMA, Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni.

Others are Oyo State Government Officials, Representatives of DAWN commission, IACD, UNAN, Markets and religious leaders from the state, local government officials and other stakeholders.

The post Oyo hosts launch of UN SDGs Yoruba Translation Wednesday first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Oyo hosts launch of UN SDGs Yoruba Translation Wednesday appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.