SDSN Nigeria Hosts Capacity Building Series

Third workshop held on "Financing SDG Research in Nigeria"

The third in the series of capacity building workshops organized by SDSN Nigeria was held at the University of Abuja on 9-10 March, 2020. The 45 participants were drawn from the academic staff of University of Abuja as well as several Sustainable Development Desk Officers (SDDOs) representing SDSN Nigeria member universities. Extensive discussions were held on the central theme: “Financing SDG Research in Nigeria.”

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja opened the workshop and expressed the University’s commitment to the SDSN. In line with this, he mandated a team to review existing sustainable development research centers in Nigeria with the objective of setting up a similar center soon at University of Abuja.

SDSN Nigeria Chair Prof. Labode Popoola and co-Chair Prof. Ngozi Odiaka led the sessions with support from Profs. Clement Adebooye and Samuel Jegede. The training was structured around eight themes: 1) designing research projects that will contribute to attainment of the SDGs, 2) strategies for engaging local lawmakers in enacting pro-SDGs laws, 3) how to strengthen collaborations between SDSN Nigeria and institutional research offices, 4) sources of funding for SDGs related research, 5) effective methods of fast-tracking research and technology uptake by Nigerian communities, 6) template of reports to be periodically submitted to the SDSN Nigeria Secretariat, 7) how to profitably manage the Sustainable Development Desk Offices, and 8) the roles and functions of SDDOs in the operational framework of SDSN Nigeria.

In addition, students from a secondary school in Abuja who had participated in science competitions showcased some of their technological innovations. A meeting of the national Leadership Council was also held after the main event on the first day.