By Michelle Tungkat Niyang
Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, a renowned expert on regional economic integration law and practice, has called for a multifaceted approach to accelerate the realization of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.
In a keynote speech at the 2025 edition of the Annual International Sustainable Development Dialogue, organized by the Osun State University Sustainable Development Institute and the Osun State Government Office on Climate Change, Professor Ladan emphasized the need for strategies that focus on enhancing economic governance, investing in infrastructure and human capital, and leveraging technology.
According to Professor Ladan, enhancing economic governance is critical to achieving the SDGs in Africa. He stressed the need to combat corruption, implement forward-looking debt sustainability analyses, and promote comprehensive economic and institutional reforms to enhance efficiency. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of strengthening climate information services and early warning systems to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The Professor also advocated for an “SDG ecosystem approach” that prioritizes activities that impact multiple SDGs simultaneously. He highlighted the potential of smart agriculture to address poverty, hunger, and job creation, and emphasized the need to promote regional stabilization and institutional capacity building.
Investing in infrastructure and human capital is another key area that Professor Ladan identified as crucial to achieving the SDGs in Africa. He stressed the need to address the pressing need for infrastructure and service delivery, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas, and to invest in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. He also emphasized the importance of promoting health, education, and social capital, and providing social safety nets to protect the poor.
Leveraging technology and the digital revolution is also critical to achieving the SDGs in Africa, according to Professor Ladan. He advocated for supporting the digital inclusion of small businesses to boost sustainable growth and entrepreneurship, and promoting technology for improved access to justice and service delivery. He also emphasized the potential of technology to preserve the environment.
Professor Ladan further emphasized the need to foster partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society to achieve the SDGs in Africa. He called for the establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms for technology development and knowledge sharing, and the promotion of public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects and financial innovation.
In terms of specific SDG areas, Professor Ladan highlighted the need to prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment, reduce inequality within and among countries, and promote sustainable consumption and production. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships for sustainable development and mobilizing resources through domestic revenue mobilization and innovative financial mechanisms.
Finally, Professor Ladan stressed the need to strengthen local ownership and implementation of the SDGs in Africa. He advocated for the development of policies, legislation, and frameworks that facilitate local ownership and implementation, and emphasized the importance of engaging local communities in SDG implementation. He also called for the promotion of open government principles for transparency, accountability, and inclusion.
By implementing these strategies, Professor Ladan believes that Africa can accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs and ensure a sustainable and equitable future for the continent.