Plans have begun to integrate teaching of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the school curriculum in Nigeria.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the launch of the World Largest Lesson, a SDGs driven outreach programme.
Mr Adamu said a directive has been given to officials in the ministry to see to the realisation of this.
Represented by Lateef Olagunju, a deputy director in the ministry, the minister noted that it was important to carry along children at their tender age to become responsible citizens prepared to achieve the global goals by 2030.
Also speaking on the plans, Senior Special Assistant to the President on the SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire called for the collaboration of all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors in creating awareness about the SDGs.
She also revealed ongoing efforts through her office aimed at creating awareness about the SDGs.
Among these were establishing after-school clubs for the SDGs and the recently held family and community lessons on the SDGs.
Mrs Orelope-Adefulire acknowledged the resilience of young people who were volunteers across the country in implementing the initiatives started in October and December respectively.
She also noted that the activation of families in SDG lessons would ensure further accountability from government.
In her words, “SDGs are about development in every aspect of life. If our young children know that they have right to quality education or good healthcare, it is then that they can act.”
“Putting that in the curriculum is about preparing them for tomorrow to know that development is their right and not a privilege. As they grow with this knowledge, they become decision makers in their little ways in actualising the goals in one or two areas.”
“Families should contribute to the development of Nigeria through SDGs by ensuring that they keep us on notice that there is need for schools, primary health centres, markets, or water in their communities.”
“We can’t be everywhere. But if we have people who key into the development agenda of Nigeria, they would be able to reach out to us, talk to us and tell us their needs so that we can get development across to them.”
“If we can mobilise ourselves to elect our leaders, we should also be able to mobilise ourselves to monitor what they do for overall development.”
The highpoint of the event was the launch of a primary school booklet explaining the SDGs.
Orelope-Adefulire promised that the books targeting students in primary 4, 5, and 6 would be widely distributed for free in schools across the country.
She revealed that the production of a secondary school edition of the booklet was in earnest and that would be launched soon.
EduCeleb.com reports that the SDGs include seventeen goals the United Nations plans that its member states would have achieved by 2030.
