PRESS RELEASE June 26, 2015 Lagos, Nigeria
Sahara partners United Nations on youth development
Sahara Group is partnering with the United Nations on the “Building Bridges” project which seeks to position young people for effective participation in activities that will be designed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for youths across the globe.
The Building Bridges project was officially launched on February 5, 2015 at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. It is expected to articulate a “youth agenda” into the unfolding Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.
In Nigeria, the Building Bridges platform held a conference themed: Beyond 2015; Promoting Gender equality and Good governance, where Sahara and other partners joined the conversation on the challenges and opportunities for youths as various SDGs are unveiled under the aegis of the UN.
The conference provided a “peek through the minds of youths” of expectations in 2030 as the world continues to seek a safer, more inclusive and prosperous world.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Babatomiwa Adesida, Manager, Sahara Foundation said the event featured frank discussions by over 1000 young Nigerians from different religious groups, ethnicities, geographical locations and economic backgrounds on their hopes for the planned SDGs.
Sahara Foundation is the Corporate Responsibility vehicle of the Sahara Group with focus on the environment, sustainable community development, healthcare as well as education and capacity building.
Adesida said Sahara was delighted to be part of UN’s efforts at amplifying the voices of people directly affected by poverty and injustice and getting their perspectives on global framework needed to change the world.
“Sahara is a major stakeholder in leading conversations and aligning with partnerships that provide a voice for the youth development and empowerment. We have successfully implemented several capacity building and entrepreneurship programmes for youths in our locations across the globe. We consider it a huge privilege to work with the UN in a bid to shape the world with active participation of the leaders of tomorrow,” he stated.
According to him, the company continues to seek avenues to promote sustainable development across markets where it operates through its Personal Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) activities.
He added: “Sahara is always happy to contribute its quota to worthy causes around the globe. We remain unwavering in our passion and commitment to being a change agent for providing growth and development platforms that bring energy to life
Sahara Group has since been inducted into the Private Sector Advisory Group of the Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F) in recognition of its contribution to activities that promote inclusive economic growth for poverty eradication, capacity building, food security and access to potable water.
The advisory group is expected to among others; help shape the SDG-F’s activities on capacity building, dialogue, research and Knowledge Sharing, Resources and infrastructure as well as advocacy and creating awareness.
