As world leaders meet in New York, head quarters of the United Nations Organization, and economic hub of the United States to talk development, cooperation and peace, the topic that measures the level of commitment to the development of poor members of the World Body, is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) launched in September 2000. In his statement at the UN General Assembly session yesterday, September 21, 2010, president Paul Biya noted that although some progress has been made since September 2000, the year 2015 remains uncertain as far as the MDGs are concerned. The timely and impressive objective of the undertaking is to reduce, if not stall poverty and misery by the year 2015. But with only five years left, the high-level plenary meeting of the UN currently assessing the progress, so far made does not doubt that despite some breakthroughs, developing nations especially, those of Africa have much more to worry about than to celebrate. President Paul Biya in his statement confirmed this, when he said the pace and even quality of the results does not spur optimism but rather at best, they are reasons for conscious satisfaction.

This, however, does not mean lack of appreciation of some progress, which has been made in the fight against AIDS which is said to have declined from 2.3 million in 2001 to 1.9 million in 2008. TB and malaria are also said to have declined in many African countries, while the pervasive wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Sudan and Uganda have either ended or abated. Regrettably, Somalia- Africa’s stubborn trouble spot continues to maintain its record with lives and property being lost every year. Health wise measles and yellow fever have almost been stamped out. Measles for example has dropped from 90 percent between 2000 and 2008, while life expectancy in many poor countries, is also said to have risen in many countries, although infant mortality remains a persistent problem. A lot more could have changed for the better, health wise were it not for the fact that most donors cut back financing for immunization to the surprise of many African Nations.

As for as the economy is concerned, many African countries, whose per capita GDP declined by 0.3 per year, witnessed a 3.1 per cent increase per year between 2000 and 2010. Most impressive is this year’s per capita GDP which is said to have risen to 2.5 per cent. Meanwhile, the extreme poverty rate is also believed to have declined to 50 per cent this year, 2010, compared to 58 per cent in 1999.

Considered globally or collectively as far as the poorer nations of the world are concerned, the developed nations that pledged finances to concretize the MDG dream would hardly believe that what they thought very necessary is today believed by some observers to be unrealistic. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon harped on the challenges of the MDGs to member nations of the UN when he said, “Our world possesses the knowledge and resources to achieve these Millennium Goals. Coming together with renewed commitment to build on our achievements so far and to bridge gaps identified, we can through shared responsibility, forge a better world for future generations. This demands individual and collective efforts at national and collective levels by all member states of the UNO. For, without such concern and commitment, great initiatives like the MDGs and other important programmes in the interest of mankind could be relegated to wishful thinking.” Crucial issues concerning the environment as regards its protection and joint efforts to confront the challenges of climate change would also be considered elitist and far-fetched. In the face of these challenges and all that the UN is already doing to usher in changes for the better, or stall the imminent danger, responsible citizens of member states of the World Body, religious groups, none Governmental Organizations ought to face the tasks, at hand with the kind of commitment that ensures the attainment of goals and the rational of the costs of bringing together hundreds of leaders and experts to talk health, wealth, peace and development.

As world leaders meeting at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly delve into burning issues concerning their global village, they are all challenged to relinquish high-level protectionist tendencies and to give greater meaning to globalization by giving the Millennium Development Goals the meaning they deserved not only in the poor nations of the world, but also in the commitment by the rich nations to fulfill the material pledges that gave hope about changes for the better by the year 2O15.