Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa

Following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, eight international development goals known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) were officially adopted by the international community. All 193 United Nations member states have agreed to achieve these goals by 2015.

 One of the eight goals was to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger".

 Based on statistics available as of June 2012, the MDG Achievement progress chat compiled by Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, paints the following picture for Sub-Saharan Africa regarding the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger:

 The targets to "reduce extreme poverty by half" and "reduce hunger by half" have already been met or are expected to be met by 2015.

 However, in the area of fostering "productive and decent employment", progress so far is insufficient to reach projected targets if prevailing trends persist.

 Poverty remains at the root of various socio-economic and political challenges faced by Sub-Saharan Africa. More concerted efforts are required by all stakeholders not only to bolster the progress that has already been made but also to develop more effective ways to eradicate poverty and extreme hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa, post 2015.

Winning the Anti-Corruption War in Nigeria

One of the fundamental approaches needed to win the anti-corruption war in Nigeria remains the provision of information to the citizenry regarding the workings of government (i.e. the constitution, budgets, operational procedures) as well as equipping them with tools they can use.

This is a clarion call to all international agencies - including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), etc- funding programmes in Nigeria in the area of anti-corruption in Nigeria to more effectively integrate this perspective in their work.