Agenda For Cleaner Environment Tops 2023 Sustainabllity Summit

By Olubode Williams

Brand Communicator and Impact Report Africa co-hosted the second annual Environment Sustainability Conference, Expo, and Awards (ECOSEA) on Thursday ,14, December, at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The event with the theme ” Sustainable collaboration and Nigerias carbon footprint” was curated as a convergence of stakeholders in environmental sustainability in both public and private sectors, as well as development agencies to develop a blue print of solution tailored to address some challenges peculiar to the nation .

The goal of the event was deliberating on issues affecting the country’s environment, vis avis the various roles the government ,private entities, organisations and youth can play to ensure a greener climate .

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In his opening speech , Mr Josuah Ajayi, convener of the ECOSEA event noted that ” climate protection in the African environment , with more emphasis on nigeria ,was a chain between private investment and public policies.

“We are happy that this program is being held at the time when the COP28 conference on environmental sustainability is still fresh in our mind”, adding:

“it would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu, along with 1,411 delegates, attended the COP28 Climate Summit, also known as the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28), on December 1 and 2, 2023 to advocate and solicit for renewable energy and climate financing.”

The event was attended by key figures from government agencies, the private sector, and international organizations. These included Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegbeshin of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Babatunde Ajayi of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Bankole Allibay of the World Bank Group, and Peju Ibekwe of SterlingOne Foundation. Other notable attendees included Dr. Eugene Itua of Natural Eco Capital and many others.

During the event, Dr. Bankole Allibay stressed that the knowledge level of sustainability compliance among many Nigerian companies is not yet where it should be.

He suggested that more participation and education policies from the government are needed to improve this situation.

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He emphasized the need for companies to understand the importance of sustainability and comply with international standards.

He said, ” Of course, people talk about climate change. However, the realities of the population of other African countries cannot be compared to that of Nigeria. We need a bespoke policy situation to speak to our situation”

When discussing the role of the Lagos state government in ensuring a green environment, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi pointed out that the flooding seen in Lagos today is a direct result of climate-related activities. He stated that the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) is fully committed to controlling and combating pollution in Lagos, especially in the air, land, and water.

He also emphasized the importance of tackling these issues head-on to create a healthier and more sustainable environment and commended the number of youths that were present for the event and applauded the organisers, noting that it means the advocacy is clear.

This year’s edition of ECOSEA welcomed corps members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and students from various tertiary institutions, including the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), as a means to involve the youth in deliberations centred around climate protection.

Dr. Gbadegbeshin’s representative, Mrs. Oguntolu Omolara, stated that LAWMA was placing a major focus on recycling in order to reduce the carbon footprint. She encouraged young people to get involved in LAWMA’s recycling initiatives, such as the Adopt-A-Bin program, through volunteering. She highlighted the importance of youth participation in creating a more sustainable future.

it was stated that a 2022 survey harvested from NOI Polls revealed that most Nigerians say the fight against climate change requires “a lot more” efforts.