The United Nations adopted seventeen (17) global goals in 2015 as part of their Sustainable Development Agenda so that the planet and the people living in it can have a better and more sustainable future to look forward to. These goals were tailored to address the root causes of challenges like poverty, environmental degradation, and inequality. 

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  Africa as a continent is facing all these concerns at a very high rate. According to the statistics report by the World Bank in 2021, over 600 million Africans were living below the international poverty line and this had increased significantly in the span of three years, especially with the current decline in the economy. It varies across different regions of Africa. Also, the majority of people living in Africa experience not only income poverty but lack of access to essential services like healthcare, clean water, and education.

There is also income inequality with a significant gap, gender inequality, and rural-urban inequalities. Environmental degradation such as deforestation, climate change, desertification, and pollution are on a very high rise. 

Fortunately, Africa has embraced these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has been constantly improving and implementing solutions to these concerns. Countries like Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Ethiopia, and Tanzania have recorded a decrease in the poverty rate with the implementation of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction (NSGRP) in Tanzania. The National Social Intervention Programme (NSIP) is currently fighting poverty in Ghana, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant in South Africa.

There has also been improved healthcare system and education in countries like Ghana, which has combated the rampant diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS; Rwanda has adopted robotic medicine; and South Africa has included expanding access to antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS patients and improving maternal and child health services. Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia are leading examples in providing quality educational systems and extending the system to the children in rural areas. 

Renewable energy has also been a great ride in African countries like Kenya, Morocco, Ethiopia, and South Africa, which are pioneers in solar energy. Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco are leading in the wind energy business. Hydropower and geothermal energy are also other sources of renewable energy African countries are exploring. 

Although there has been significant improvement in the implementation and sustainability of these goals, there are also some challenges threatening the program such as Financing, Conflict and Instability, Inequality, Environmental Degradation. However, African countries don't seem to be bowing to the challenges because of the opportunities for progress that are being set up. These are youth engagement, regional cooperation, partnerships, and technology.

Africa has been portrayed as a declining continent in technology and other developing areas but with the notable achievements listed, there is no doubt that Africa will be able to implement more of these goals and sustain them in the foreseeable future.