This article explores the function of grassroots leadership as a driving force for realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria, utilising evidence from community mobilisation efforts linked to the Street2Street movement. Notwithstanding worldwide pledges to the 2030 Agenda, the execution of SDGs in Nigeria is hindered by a lack of legitimacy in local administration, as local officials are accountable to state political elites instead of their constituents. This disconnection sustains a hierarchical development model that sidelines grassroots participants and hampers the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The article illustrates that grassroots leadership addresses essential deficiencies that formal institutions are unable to tackle, thereby directly contributing to SDG objectives in education, health, environmental sustainability, and inclusive governance through case studies of student-led SDG advocacy, youth-driven health and environmental initiatives, and community-based mobility programs. Nonetheless, enduring obstacles such as resource limitations, inadequate policy cohesion, and institutional disregard hinder the efficacy and longevity of community-driven projects. The piece contends that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria relies on fortifying authentic local political leadership, institutionalising youth-driven networks, allocating direct financial resources to grassroots participants, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaborations that honour community autonomy. It asserts that when communities recognise their own strength, the Sustainable Development Goals transition from abstract ambitions to tangible realities influenced by local initiatives. Suggestions encompass reforms in local administration, specialised funding strategies, incorporation of SDG education into educational programs, establishment of connections between grassroots movements and governmental planning, and collaborative partnerships among various stakeholders for community-driven solutions.

Keywords: Grassroots leadership, Sustainable Development Goals, SDG localization, Nigeria, community mobilization, Street2Street movement, youth advocacy, local governance, legitimacy, community development.