To successfully deliver on the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, conscious and strategic efforts must be made by leaders at public and private sectors to systematically address the perennial challenges of extreme poverty.
The call was made by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in her message to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
According to the presidential aide, stakeholders must endeavour to take steps and put modalities in place to rid the society of forces and practices that hinder the reduction of poverty, adding that ideals that promote social inclusion, social justice, wealth creation, sustained growth and human capacity development should continuously remain at the centrepiece of the national life.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire noted that in the overall quest of the government to build a future that is desired by all, strategic efforts have been made by the Buhari Administration to alleviate poverty, foster economic growth and empower the youth and women. In particular, she maintained that huge investment made by the government in Social Intervention Programme is a clear testimony to the commitment of the government to deal decisively with the challenge of extreme poverty. She added that this is in line with the global thinking for elites to come together with those furthest behind to build an inclusive world of universal respect for human rights and dignity.
Globally, October 17 is set aside to galvanise efforts towards the eradication of poverty with a belief that the fundamental connection between extreme poverty and human rights, and that people living in poverty are disproportionately affected by many human rights violations.
The global community believe that government policies alone cannot create the social inclusion that is fundamental to reaching those left furthest behind and overcoming poverty in all its dimensions. The commemoration of October 17 each year, when people living in poverty take the floor and share their experiences, demonstrates how the world can achieve greater social inclusion by enabling people from all walks of life to come together to respect the human rights and dignity of the downtrodden.