University of Maiduguri Hosts 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Development

The Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Maiduguri, recently hosted its 2nd International Conference on "Harnessing Sustainable Development Goals Towards Expanding Economic Frontiers: Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Solutions." The conference, held from February 11-13, 2025, brought together experts from around the world to discuss the role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in driving economic expansion and sustainable national growth.

The conference featured keynote presentations from renowned speakers, including Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, and Andrey Bogdanov, CEO of Risk Insights, South Africa. Other notable speakers included Professor Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Nigeria, and Professor Cecilia Olukemi Yekini, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

The conference identified key issues hindering the implementation of SDGs in Nigeria, including significant gaps in SDG implementation, inadequate financing, and policy inconsistencies. The conference also highlighted the importance of digital transformation, financial inclusion, and climate-smart policies in driving sustainable economic growth.

The conference resolutions called for governments, private sector players, academia, and civil society to take bold actions in implementing the SDGs. The resolutions also emphasized the need for strengthening institutional capacities for SDG implementation, promoting digital transformation and financial inclusion, enhancing SME growth and tax compliance, and ensuring good governance and ethical leadership.

The conference was sponsored by the University of Maiduguri, the Borno State government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and Think-Lab Group.