Enugu State has attracted continental attention for its approach to sustainable development after its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Focal Person, Engr. Onyinye Akubuilo-Okpalanma, received a recognition award and delivered a lecture at the African Sustainability and Circular Economy Conference in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Akubuilo-Okpalanma, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, used the conference to showcase the Enugu State Smart Green Schools Project as a practical example of how global development goals can be translated into community-level interventions.
Speaking on “Localizing the SDGs for Community Impact,” she explained how an integrated development model could simultaneously address multiple Sustainable Development Goals rather than treating each goal as a standalone project.
According to her, the Smart Green Schools Project goes beyond the provision of school buildings, combining education, healthcare, nutrition, technology, clean energy, agriculture, inclusion and environmental sustainability within a single community-based intervention.
She said the project advances SDG 1 (No Poverty) by providing free access to basic education and reducing the financial burden on vulnerable families, while its school feeding and smart agricultural components contribute to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through improved nutrition and early exposure to sustainable farming.
The inclusion of school-based health clinics, she noted, supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), while modern classrooms, science laboratories, ICT centres, interactive learning technologies and innovation spaces advance SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Akubuilo-Okpalanma also highlighted the project’s contribution to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through inclusive access to education for boys and girls, as well as SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) through improved water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
The deployment of solar-powered systems in the schools, she explained, supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by reducing dependence on conventional electricity sources while exposing pupils to renewable-energy solutions.
She said technical, vocational and entrepreneurial learning, including exposure to emerging technologies and innovation, contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by introducing children to skills relevant to the future economy.
The modern infrastructure, digital technologies, science laboratories, innovation centres and connectivity incorporated into the schools also advance SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), she said.
On SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), Akubuilo-Okpalanma stressed that the project was designed to narrow disparities in access to quality education, arguing that a child’s opportunity to attend a well-equipped school should not be determined by the economic status of his or her parents.
She further linked the project to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the provision of modern and sustainable infrastructure within communities, while environmental education, sustainable agriculture and green principles contribute to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
The green features of the schools, particularly solar energy and environmental education, were also presented as practical contributions to SDG 13 (Climate Action), while the integration of agriculture, environmental awareness and sustainability supports SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Akubuilo-Okpalanma said the major lesson from Enugu’s experience was that localising the SDGs did not require governments to establish 17 separate projects for the 17 goals.
Instead, she argued that carefully designed interventions could generate multiplier effects across several development targets simultaneously.
Her presentation positioned Enugu as an example of how subnational governments could translate the global SDG framework into practical interventions that directly affect communities and improve citizens’ everyday experiences.
The conference reached a high point with the presentation of an award of recognition to Akubuilo-Okpalanma for her contributions to sustainable development and the advancement of the SDGs.
Receiving the award, she dedicated the recognition to the Enugu State Governor, Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, acknowledging what she described as his commitment to translating development policies into projects and initiatives capable of improving the lives of residents.
She said the recognition also reflected the broader development vision of the Mbah administration and the collective efforts of the government towards advancing sustainable and inclusive development across the state.
Her participation at the Cotonou conference further brought Enugu into continental discussions around sustainability, circular economy, climate action and the localisation of the SDGs.
The presentation ultimately reinforced the message that sustainable development is not achieved solely through international commitments or policy documents, but through interventions in schools, homes, farms, communities and institutions where citizens can directly experience their impact.
