Nations of the world met in September 2015 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which came to an end in 2015. The leaders agreed to set the world on a path towards Sustainable Development through the adoption of the 2030 agenda. This agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals which form a cohesive and integrated package of global aspiration of the world that set out three quantitative dimensions of ‘Sustainable Development’ of economic growth, environmental sustainability and social inclusion. Nigeria is bedevilled with multiple development challenges ranging from poverty, hunger, diseases, lack of qualitative education among others. However, due to the powerful influence of media in reinforcing social change, it came to be associated with development; media were considered as valuable instrument in contributing towards eradicating of those societal challenges. Consequently, the study examines the extent to which the Nigerian press cover the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) I-IV using quantitative content analysis as the research methodology. A Census technique was applied in content analysing two Nigerian newspapers (Daily Trust and The Guardian) for twelve months 2016 was the study time frame. Also, 520 copies of the two newspapers were analysed and interpreted using a descriptive method of data analysis. Moreover, Agenda Settings and Media Framing formed the study theoretical framework. The study findings revealed that the coverage of SDGs I-IV was significantly low as compared to other study content categories. On the other hand, the level of prominence accorded to SDGs I-IV was also significantly low in comparison to other SDGs and Non-SDGs. In addition, the direction of SDGs I-IV coverage was highly recorded as positive or promotional to SDGs development agenda. Finally, the study recommended that further studies should be carried out using both the quantitative and qualitative approach to have a clear understanding in a more analytical mode. It is also important to sensitise media professionals about the need to improve the quantity and quality of SDGs coverage in Nigeria which should include articles and analysis reflecting everyday struggles of regions especially the condition of those living in resource-poor settings. Doing so will help encouraging societies and decision-makers to prioritise the SDGs agenda in the decision making process.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals (I-Iv), Daily Trust and The Guardian, SDGs I-IV, Coverage of Sustainable Development Goals,

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