Nigeria has reinforced its position as a continental leader in innovative development financing following a three-day high-level knowledge exchange with Ethiopia on the implementation of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF).
The strategic engagement, hosted by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), brought together senior government officials, fiscal experts, development partners and policymakers to examine how African nations can mobilise and coordinate financing to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Chairmen and senior representatives of Internal Revenue Service Boards from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory participated, underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening sub-national fiscal capacity as a cornerstone of sustainable development financing.
Organised in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the European Union (EU), the exchange showcased Nigeria’s INFF implementation experience as a potential model for other African nations seeking to enhance domestic resource mobilisation, improve public financial management and attract private investment.
Fiscal Governance Essential for SDG Delivery
Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, OFR, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, emphasised that strengthening fiscal governance at state level remains critical to achieving sustainable development.
She noted that state governments deliver essential public services—including primary healthcare, basic education, water supply, sanitation, agriculture and infrastructure—making robust state-level financing systems indispensable.
“The INFF recognises that achieving sustainable development cannot rely solely on traditional public financing,” she stated. “Strengthening fiscal capacity at the sub-national level is not merely a technical exercise; it is a strategic imperative.”
Transformative Framework for Development
Professor Taiwo Oyedele, Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, described the INFF as a transformative framework capable of reshaping development financing approaches.
He said the framework represents “a fundamentally different way of thinking about how nations mobilise, align and deploy financing for sustainable development,” adding that the future of development financing depends not only on resource availability but also on how effectively countries coordinate and invest those resources in national priorities.
The Minister linked the INFF to Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal and tax reform agenda, explaining that stronger domestic revenue mobilisation and institutional reforms are essential to expanding development financing while supporting economic growth and voluntary tax compliance.
SDGs Delivered at Sub-National Level
Ms Elsie G. Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, emphasised that the Sustainable Development Goals are ultimately delivered at the sub-national level.
She observed that stronger state institutions and improved fiscal systems enable governments to invest more effectively in education, healthcare, infrastructure and job creation, translating policy ambitions into measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.
South-South Cooperation Strengthened
For the Ethiopian delegation, the visit offered an opportunity to study Nigeria’s practical INFF implementation experience. Mr Solomon Tesfasilassie Tegene, leader of the delegation, described the exchange as a powerful demonstration of South-South cooperation and commended Nigeria for sharing valuable lessons on innovative financing, governance structures and private-sector engagement.
He said the knowledge gained would support Ethiopia’s own efforts to strengthen sustainable development financing and institutional reforms.
Over three days, participants examined Nigeria’s governance arrangements, financing strategies, coordination mechanisms and emerging sub-national implementation framework. Discussions explored ways to strengthen collaboration between African countries in designing nationally owned financing strategies capable of addressing development challenges amid constrained fiscal space.
The Nigeria INFF, chaired by the Honourable Minister of Finance and co-chaired by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, is designed to mobilise greater public and private financing for sustainable development. The OSSAP-SDGs serves as the Secretariat.
As African nations continue seeking innovative financing solutions amid global economic uncertainties, the Nigeria–Ethiopia exchange has reinforced the growing importance of South-South cooperation in building stronger institutions, mobilising domestic resources and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
