Lagos State Government has inaugurated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Clubs across public primary schools, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing responsible citizenship and embedding sustainability values from an early age.
Speaking at the inauguration held at the SUBEB Hall, Maryland, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, described the initiative as a strategic step toward shaping a just, inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable future for the State.
Dr. Finnih, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of SDGs, Mrs. Kaphayah Olayemi Sarumi, emphasised that the launch goes beyond establishing school clubs; it represents a deliberate effort to plant transformative ideas, instil enduring values, and empower young learners to recognise their role in driving societal progress.
“The true power of the SDGs is realised when they move from policy documents into daily habits and lived experiences,” she noted, adding that institutionalising the Goals within primary education signals Lagos State’s resolve to begin sustainable development early, intentionally, and inclusively.
The Special Adviser highlighted that SDGs Clubs have already been successfully integrated into tertiary institutions, including Lagos State University (LASU), as well as public secondary schools across the State.
In these institutions, students are actively championing climate awareness, promoting social inclusion, supporting peer education, and executing community-based projects, thereby serving as catalysts for leadership, innovation, and volunteerism.
Dr. Finnih credited the progress to the visionary leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose administration continues to align educational reforms with the targets of SDG 4 – Quality Education, advancing both access and relevance in learning.
Extending the initiative to primary schools, she explained, strengthens the educational pipeline by ensuring that sustainability consciousness is nurtured progressively from childhood through adulthood.
“Education is not merely about literacy and numeracy; it is about shaping character, sharpening curiosity, and cultivating responsibility. It remains the most powerful tool for achieving all the SDGs,” she stated.
She further underscored the critical role of educators in guiding an estimated 3.3 million young learners in Lagos, urging schools to go beyond awareness by inspiring creativity, encouraging solution-driven thinking, and equipping pupils to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and social justice at the local level.
According to her, the State’s vision is clear: to bequeath a sustainable life to the next generation by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes required to become innovators, advocates and change makers within their communities.
She commended the leadership of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for its collaboration in advancing the SDGs and applauded teachers for their unwavering dedication to nation-building.
Addressing the pupils, Dr. Finnih encouraged them to exemplify good character, respect their parents and teachers, remain committed to their studies, and care for their environment. “The future belongs to you, and it starts now,” she concluded.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of LASUBEB, Dr. Hakkem Babatunde Shittu stated that the introduction of the SDGs Club in Public Primary School will serve as a centre for value-based learning for grooming young change makers who understand that development begins with individual responsibility and collective action.
He noted that the Club will further expose pupils to the principles of sustainable development goals in a practical and age appropriate manners, stressing that the club will complement their participation in existing clubs such as the JESTS, Young Farmers’, and other uniform societies.
“The introduction of SDGs into our public primary schools is a strategic intervention designed to implant sustainability, civic responsibility, and global awareness into the foundational years of learning”, the LASUBEB Chairman stated.
(LASG)
