By MICHAEL EBOH
THE United Nations, UN, Thursday, said the country had shown signs of progress in thAe achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.

Deputy Head of the UN System in Nigeria, Dr. Charles Korir, who made the remark at the presentation of the 2011 MDGs report in Lagos, said: “Nigeria is making real progress toward achievement of the MDGs. Nigeria has today fully integrated the MDGs into national development strategies and leads Africa in innovative initiatives to reduce poverty and improve public services.

“If the government continues to provide a supportive environment as it has been doing over the last 10 years, the country stands to achieve the MDGs.”

Korir said there were success stories in all the MDGs though he noted that the level of successes varied from state to state.

Stressing that there had been impressive indicators for improvement in primary school enrolment, reduction of HIV prevalence as well as debt sustainability, Korir said, however, that there were reduced achievements in the areas of access to safe water, women empowerment, access to health facilities and rate of completion of primary education.

Meanwhile, the United Nations’ Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has predicted a significant drop in global poverty by the year 2015.
Ban Ki-moon, in his message contained in the report, presented by Mrs. Jumoke Araba, Officer-in-Charge of the UN Information Centre, Lagos, projected that global poverty will drop below 15 per cent, well ahead of the 23 per cent target.

He said: “Despite the global economic downturn and the food and energy crises, we are on track to meet the MDG targets for poverty reduction. Increased funding from many sources has translated into more programmes and resources for the needy.

Tremendous difference

“It is clear that the MDGs have made a tremendous difference. They have raised awareness. They have shaped the broad vision that remains the overarching framework for development work across the world. And they have fuelled action – meaningful progress in people’s lives.

Hundreds of millions have been lifted from poverty. More people have access to education, better health care and improved access to clean drinking water.

“The poorest of the poor are being left behind. We need to reach out and lift them into our lifeboat. Now is the time for equity, inclusion, sustainability and women’s empowerment. Investing in human capital must be our strategy and our touchstone. Some of the world’s poorest nations have made some of the largest strides towards reaching universal enrolment in primary education.”

The UN boss called for concerted effort in the area of economic partnership, commerce and environment actions so as to achieve the goals of the MDG by 2015, adding: “The agreed deadline of 2015 is fast approaching.

We need a rejuvenated global partnership for development. We need breakthroughs in trade negotiations and in climate action. We need to build resilience to shocks – be they conflicts, natural disasters or volatility in food and energy prices.”