SDGs: Youth charged to reshape future as Abdul Rahman bags award
SDGs: Youth charged to reshape future as Abdul Rahman bags award
By Paulinus Auta
The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Prof. Shehu Abdul Rahman, has received the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Award of Excellence in Environmental Stewardship.
This prestigious award was presented to the vice-chancellor during the maiden edition of the SDGs Campus Summit 2025, held at the Management Information System (MIS) Multi-Purpose Hall, Permanent Site Campus, Federal University of Lafia.
The summit, themed: “From Awareness to Action: Youths Driving Change through SDGs,” brought together visionaries, change-makers and young leaders passionate about creating sustainable future.
Miss Rahmat Oseze Sani, the summit’s coordinator and convener, in her speech, described Prof. Abdul Rahman as a champion of sustainable development and a passionate advocate for the SDGs.
Miss Sani said that the summit aimed to raise awareness about the SDGs and inspire young people to take action towards achieving SDG goals.
She expressed her gratitude to the dignitaries, ministries and organisations that supported and attended the event.
Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor of FULafia, Prof. Abdul Rahman, congratulated the convener and participants for organising the summit.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Aleruchi Chuku, Abdul Rahman said that the summit was a testament to the potential and power of young people to create better and sustainable future for the nation.
Abdul Rahman expressed his gratitude to the organisers for the award, stating that environmental sustainability was a key part of his blueprint for the University.
He noted that the University has made significant strides in environmental sustainability, citing the implementation of a green environment policy and the establishment of centres for energy studies and local economic development as examples.
The keynote address was delivered by Malam Abubakar Murtala Mohammad, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Nasarawa State on SDGs, represented by Mr. Ahmed Tsaku, the Director of Operations at the SDGs office, Lafia, where he highlighted the importance of youth engagement in achieving the SDGs and encouraged young people to take ownership of the goals.
A panel discussion on “Turning Awareness into Action: Strategies for Youth-Led SDG Initiatives” moderated by Dr Ayomide Labulo Hassan, a senior lecturer at the Federal University of Lafia, was a highlight of the event.
The panelists included Haruna Sani Sani, the Director-General/CEO of the Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency,0 Dr. Shekwonyadu Iyakwari, of Applied Mineralogy and Mineral Exploration at FULafia, and Ishaq Abubakar Ibrahim, the Director, Public Health and Waste Management NASWAMSA/Environmental Safeguard Officer of the European Investment Bank Assisted Climate and Adaptation – Erosion and Watershade (NEWMAP – EIB), Nasarawa State.
The event also featured stories of leadership and opportunities shared by Miss Abdullaziz Farida Ene, Founder of the Girl-Child Initiative, and Executive Director, Kefas Elisha Tigga, Executive Director of Community Initiative for Character Moulding and Entrepreneurship Development (CiCMED).
Goodwill messages were delivered by some dignitaries including Rt. Hon. Shuaibu Sani, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Nasarawa on Youth and Students Affairs, Comrade Sale Barde, Chairman, Nasarawa State Disability Rights Commission, and Angbashim Ishaku, Director, Climate Change, Nasarawa State, Ministry of Environment
Other dignitaries in attendance included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration of FULafia, Prof. Ali Is’haq Shugaba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Partnerships of FULafia, Prof. Samaila Usman Dakyes, University Librarian, FULafia, Prof. Abiodun Iyoro, Nazif Nuhu, Deputy Chief of Party, Mercy Corps Venture, Abuja,
Muhammad Ridwan, General Manager, Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority, Dr Jude Onwuka, Acting Director, Centre for Local Economic Development FULafia, and Denbeki Danjuma, Head of Sanitation Unit, FULafia.
