The tenth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) and Side Events took place from 5 to 8 May 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The theme for the STI Forum 2025 is: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based, science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”.
To attend the STI Forum, I’m excited to lead a WFEO delegation including:
- Dr. Gong Ke, WFEO Past President
- Eng. Dr. Martin Manuhwa, Chair of the WFEO Committee on Engineering Capacity Building (WFEO-CECB)
- Dr. K. N. Gunalan, Past President of ASCE and Chair of the WFEO-UN Relations Committee (WURC)
- Dr. Bill Kelly, WURC Member and Senior Advisor to ASCE
- Enyonam Kpekpena, Chair of the WFEO Committee on Women in Engineering (WFEO-WIE) and
- Rabiu Haruna, Engineer inspector at Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)
At the side Event organized by WFEO on 6 May 2025
We participated in many of the sessions as Lead, Panel Speakers, Executive Discussants and Contributors.
This year’s forum explored how to advance sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind.
Speaking as Executive Discussant during 4th Session on 8 May 2025
On its 10th anniversary, the STI Forum focused its discussions on
- making artificial intelligence (AI) accessible, inclusive, and beneficial for all;
- advancing science, technology, and innovation for gender equality;
- leveraging science to conserve, restore, and sustainably use ocean and coastal ecosystems; and
- scaling up STI financing, capacity building, and strengthening research infrastructures for sustainable development.
The STI Forum was preceded by an Action Day as well as by a Special Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Artificial Intelligence (AI) on 6 May.
With His Excellency Bob Rae, Permanent Ambassador of Canada to the United Nations, the President of UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Chairman of the STI Forum at the Closing Session
WFEO Side event was held on 6 May. We also used the opportunity to have a meeting with UN DESA and visited the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) office in New York where we discussed issues of mutual interest between our organizations.
With Marc Beebe (right), Senior Director at IEEE On visit to the IEEE Office in New York
It was indeed a very successful outing and I thank the officials of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and members of our delegation for all the cooperation and support.
On 7 May, Dr. K. N. Gunalan delivered a statement during the thematic session 1: “Making artificial intelligence (AI) accessible, inclusive and beneficial for all”.
You can watch by clicking in this link at 01:09:55
K. N. Gunalan delivering his statement
With UNESCO ADG for Natural Sciences Dr. Lidia Brito
With WFEO-WIE Chair Enyonem Kpekpena and WFEO-CECB Chair Martin Manuhwa after WFEO side event on 6 May 2025.
Report by WFEO President Mustafa Shehu.
For more information:
MAY
2025