AFRICA SDG WEEK: GRACE NZIVO NEF AMBASSADORS SPEECH



The Chief Guest, Eng. Erick Ohaga, esteemed supporters, speakers, panelists, delegates, students, ladies, and gentlemen, good morning.

It is an honor to welcome you all to the Africa SDG Week 2024. I stand here as the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Ambassador for Kenya, a role I take immense pride in, as it allows me to contribute to the vision of Africa as a global leader in science and innovation.

The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) is a public engagement initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), founded in 2013. NEF was born out of the recognition that Africa needed a space where the best minds from science, industry, civil society, and policy could come together to leverage science for global development. We at NEF are driven by the belief that the next great scientific mind—the Next Einstein—will come from Africa. Africa’s contributions to the global scientific community are critical to addressing the world’s challenges, and at the heart of this effort are young people—the driving force behind Africa’s scientific renaissance.

NEF Ambassadors like myself, along with the NEF Fellows, embody this mission. We are committed to fostering youth-led innovation, and this year's Africa SDG Week is a testament to that commitment. With the theme “Youth-led Innovations for Sustainable Development,” this week- long celebration from the 7th to the 12th of October 2024 aims to spotlight and celebrate youth- led initiatives that are contributing to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Kenya.

By showcasing the leadership and participation of young people, we aim to inspire, empower, and amplify the voices of change-makers who are driving progress in their communities and beyond.

As we gather today, it's important to reflect on where we stand in our journey toward achieving the SDGs. The 2018 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, laid out 17 SDGs aimed at fostering peace, prosperity, and environmental preservation while addressing climate change and its impacts. However, with just six years left to meet these goals, the question remains: how far have we come?

According to the UN's 2024 SDG Progress Report, only 17% of the goals are on track to be met. While 18% have made moderate progress, 30% show marginal progress, and a worrying 35% are either stagnating or regressing. Multiple global crises, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and the growing climate crisis—as witnessed here in Kenya with recent ϐloods—have severely hindered our progress. Kenya currently ranks 123rd out of 167 countries in terms of SDG progress.

So, where does the youth ϐit in all of this? Youth are not only the future; as we will see throughout this week, they are very much the present. They are leading movements, shaping ideas, and building solutions that will drive us forward toward achieving the SDGs.

As we kick off Africa SDG Week, let us engage in meaningful conversations about the way forward.

This is not just a task for the youth—it is a call for all Kenyans, young and old, majority and minority, to unite and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. Remember, sustainable development requires collective action, and every one of us can make a difference by contributing in our own way.

In conclusion, I want to highlight that this initiative is made possible through the generous support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, a nonpartisan U.S.-based philanthropic organization. The Foundation provides reliable, responsive, and strategic support to partners such as AIMS, underscoring a shared vision of building an inclusive society where all people, communities, and the planet can thrive.

Thank you very much for your attention, and I warmly welcome you to the Africa SDG Week Kenya Edition. Let’s make the most of this important week and work together for a sustainable future.

Thank you.


By: OUNAH KHALAYI

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