Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Oyo State government is set to host official launch of Yoruba translation of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), on Wednesday, July 25.

The launch, 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, Ibadan.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, said the translation of UN SDGs goal to Yoruba is to simplify objectives of SDGs in executing and implementing some pro-poor projects and programmes under Conditional Grants Scheme targeted at the people at the grassroots.

He added that 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 Yoruba speaking states of South West Nigeria.

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

He said, “Nigeria is a signatory to 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 UN SDG for effective communication on the implementation of the goals.”

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