A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Prince John Mayaki, has congratulated the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, on his recent award from the United Nations (UN) in Nigeria as a champion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Agba became the first SDGs award recipient last week at the UN House in Abuja where he was feted for his passion and enthusiasm in championing SDGs in Nigeria. The SDGs comprise 17 goals with the cardinal objective to tackle poverty, improve health and education, spur economic growth, and reduce inequality in developing and developed countries.
Member states of the UN, including Nigeria, adopted the goals in 2015 and have recorded varying levels of success in attaining the goals. Describing Agba’s award as a deserved recognition for the reforms and direct contributions he led to accelerate Nigeria’s attainment of the SDGs by the year 2030, Mayaki praised him as an uncommon public servant with an impressive record of impact and excellence.
He said, “Minister Agba is an uncommon public servant, a thoroughbred professional, and an achiever per excellence. His recognition by the UN is a well-deserved honour for his exemplary role in ensuring an institutional focus and action on the SDGs.”
“He is a committed community developer with a long history of empowering communities to close development gaps through strategic and impactful human and societal investments. As a public servant, he has been at the forefront of reforms and landmark projects key to infrastructural growth, fiscal discipline, capacity building, and rural development.”
Mayaki expressed confidence that the minister will remain a source of pride to Edo people and Nigeria, adding that his outstanding achievements further underscore the need to attract talents and accomplished individuals from the private sector to public governance.
