ABUJA, Nigeria. The President of the Read and Earn Federation for UNESCO (UNESCO REF), Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, has paid a formal working visit to Dr Idowu Olagunju, Secretary-General of the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM-UNESCO). The meeting advanced dialogue on an enhanced institutional mandate for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria and on strengthening the country’s leadership within UNESCO’s global mission.

National commissions occupy a distinctive place in the architecture of UNESCO. Under Article VII of the Organization’s Constitution, each Member State is invited to associate its principal bodies in education, science, culture and communication with the work of UNESCO, ordinarily through a national commission. NATCOM-UNESCO is that bridge for Nigeria, and engagement with it is central to aligning the work of civil society institutions with the nation’s commitments to the Organization.

Aligning national priorities with the 2030 Agenda

Aligner les priorités nationales sur le Programme 2030

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening Nigeria’s role in UNESCO’s global mission and to aligning national priorities with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Discussions turned on five areas of common purpose:

• The consolidation of institutional frameworks for SDG delivery.
• The expansion of youth empowerment initiatives.
• The promotion of gender equality.
• The advancement of digital transformation.
• The fostering of inclusive and equitable education.

UNESCO REF’s institutional mandate

Le mandat institutionnel de l’UNESCO REF

Prince Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan affirmed UNESCO REF’s readiness to work closely with NATCOM-UNESCO to mobilise expertise, resources and innovative programmes for the benefit of Nigerian communities. He described the partnership as a model of multi-stakeholder cooperation, capable of accelerating measurable progress on sustainable development and of reinforcing Nigeria’s standing within UNESCO’s global network.

“Our mandate is not only national but continental. By aligning Nigeria’s priorities with UNESCO’s vision, we are ensuring that Africa’s youth, women, and communities stand at the center of global development discourse.”

Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, President, UNESCO REF

That continental perspective is reflected in UNESCO REF’s programmes, among them The VOICE Initiative, whose roadmap extends from Nigeria to all 54 African nations by 2030, and the Young Women in Agriculture programme, mobilising 12 million young women across the six geopolitical zones.

NATCOM-UNESCO’s strategic vision

La vision stratégique de la NATCOM-UNESCO

Dr Olagunju welcomed the initiative and emphasised the importance of building synergies for the effective delivery of UNESCO-mandated programmes. He observed that an enhanced institutional mandate would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and would support UNESCO’s broader vision of peace, human dignity and sustainable development.

Commitment to joint action

Engagement en faveur d’une action conjointe

The visit concluded with three shared commitments:

• To establish joint action frameworks for programme implementation.
• To widen stakeholder participation across government, civil society and youth groups.
• To make Nigeria’s engagement with UNESCO a benchmark for impactful, inclusive and globally relevant development.

With fewer than five years remaining before the 2030 deadline, such coordination between national institutions and civil society is no longer optional. It is the condition on which the attainment of the Goals in Nigeria will depend.

ENDS