In September 2015, world leaders converged at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to consider and adopt a new comprehensive, ambitious and transformational development agenda. The Outcome Document adopted during the summit outlines a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets aimed at eradicating poverty in all its forms and shifting the world onto a sustainable and resilient development pathway while ensuring that ‘no one is left behind’. The SDGs seek to build on and complete the unfinished business of the MDGs; realize the human rights of all; achieve gender equality in all sectors and spheres of life; and importantly, strike a balance between economic, social and environmental dimensions of development.

The jump from the MDGs to the SDGs is not simply a question of extending the timeline and the ambition of the goals. New goals have been added, entirely new sectors have been introduced and the number of indicators has more than doubled. The breadth and depth of the endeavour will now involve a substantial multiplication of activities and an expansion of partnerships and institutions. Moreover, a number of the SDGs do not simply specify outcome goals, but also the means by which these goals should be achieved. An emphasis on rights, justice, social inclusion, sustainability, access to technology and reducing inequality will place new constraints and demands on policy at all stages – in planning, implementation and monitoring.

Preparing for these complex policy issues over a time horizon of fifteen years will depend on laying a solid foundation. Luckily, Nigeria does not need to start from scratch. The experience of the MDGs, if properly leveraged, should provide the foundation for achieving the SDGs.