Date: 2015-06-11

After the expiration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, the United Nations (UN) is in the process of developing the next set of international development goals, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A conference that will address youth involvement in the formulation of these Post-2015 international goals held at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State on June 4, 2015.

The youth conference is organized by the Building Bridges foundation, Netherlands in partnership with UN.

The conference was tagged 'Beyond 2015, Promoting Gender Equality and Good Governance'.

Deliberations at the conference were based on two sub themes, "Re-thinking Women’s empowerment and Gender Equality in 2015 and Beyond" and Good Governance; the Initiative From A Sustainable Perspective."

The Building Bridges ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Lemo, said the conference was aimed at picturing the new Post-2015 development agenda through young people at the grassroots level.

He argued that the youth have been historically isolated from high-level policy determination despite their large size and roles to development of the world, stressing that, "the youth were not actively involved in the formulation of MDGs in the year 2000."

"By involving young people in policy formulation and development, they will become more empowered, gain a stronger voice and determine their own future. This is why the UN has provided platforms for the youth to contribute their voices towards the formulation of the SDGs," he noted.

Gbenga disclosed that about 200 Nigerian youth from different parts of the country have participated in the conference.

The outcomes of the conferences will be presented to the UN during her high level post-2015 summit in September, 2015 in New York.

Muritala wrote from University of Ilorin