From: David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
A don at the University of Benin, Prof. Gideon Omuta, has identified paucity of data, wrong methodology, inadequate funding and corruption as the major challenges of implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria.
This was contained in a lead paper presented on his behalf by the Acting Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Leonard Muoghalu at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, Uli campus, to mark the second international conference on the environment with the theme: Evaluation of Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria.
Prof. Omuta maintained that inadequacy and paucity of data did not allow real time measurement of progress with respect to a number of MDG targets and indicators. He noted that pieces of information from some sources were questionable for development planning purposes.
The don said the question had always arisen as to the level of resolution of comparison from one nation to the other. He wondered what would be the basis for such computations and comparisons.
Apart from definitions of the indicators for monitoring and evaluating the MDGs, according to the Prof, inadequate funding served as a cog in the wheel of progress as developing countries were incapacitated by the funds to fully implement MDG projects. He said this was so because of the fact that poverty was the baseline for the definition and identification of developing nations.
Prof. Omuta also noted that no meaningful progress would be made towards the implementation of the MDGs in the midst of official corruption which he described as a perversive social phenomenon in developing countries.
“The phenomenon of corruption has been elevated from just a social problem to the status of a ‘culture’. However, as a culture, corruption wears different faces, including diversion of resources to projects they were meant for, conversion of public funds and resources to private use, and some other corrupt practices,” he posited.
However, the second paper presenter and the first African woman Professor in Mass Communication, Professor Stella Okunna explained that the implementation of the MDGs in Anambra State during former Governor Peter Obi’s eight years administration where she variously served as the Commissioner for Information, Commissioner for Budget Planning, Chairman for Implementation Committee for MDGs in the State and Chief of Staff was a success.
She said that Governor Obi was able to achieve eight MDGs through a policy called Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS).
Prof. Okunna explained that the programme was targeted at, among other things, financial empowerment where about N49million was given out as cash, job creation, environmental sustainability through combating environmental degradation.
She said that the Governor Obi’s administration was able to achieve a measurable success through partnership with individuals, groups, local and international agencies.
The Vice Chancellor of the COOU, Professor Fidelis Okafor who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor S.N.Madu said the university had distinguished itself in various academic fields locally and internationally.
He said not long ago, the COOU Engineering Department beat the whole world in London in an engineering competition. The VC also announced that the Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board recently rated the university second apart from the University of Benin, Edo State in academic performance, adding that the COOU had been made a member of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) council, among other achievements.