The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres has named the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, and 16 other influential figures around the globe as Sustainable Development Goals Advocates to push the agenda of the global development drive to a new height.

The announcement was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Fred Eno.

The appointments have Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana Ms. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway as co-chairmen of the committee.

“These 17 influential public figures are committed to raising awareness, inspiring greater ambition, and pushing for faster action on the SDGs, which were adopted by world leaders on 25 September 2015.

“United Nations Member States agreed to accomplish the SDGs by 2030. To build the momentum for transformative, inclusive development by 2030, the Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates will use their unique platforms and leadership to inspire cross-cutting mobilization of the global community.

“We have the tools to answer the questions posed by climate change, environmental pressure, poverty and inequality. They lie in the great agreements of 2015 – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

“But tools are no use if you don’t use them. So, today, and every day, my appeal is clear and simple. We need action, ambition and political will. More action, more ambition and more political will,” said the Secretary-General.

“By joining forces to achieve our goals, we can turn hope into reality – leaving no one behind,” said Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates group Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway.