Stakeholders Call For Increased Collaboration In The Implementation Of Environmental Laws And Regulations In Nigeria

Leading experts and stakeholders in environment and sustainability have called for increased multi-stakeholder partnership between both private and public sectors in the implementation of environmental laws and regulations to ensure progress in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.

This recommendation was made at the World Environment Day celebration organized by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Ekiti State Field Office, in conjunction with Triple Green Environmental Development Foundation (TGED Foundation) and the Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES Institute), Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).

Themed “Only One Earth”, this high-level event featured opening remarks and goodwill messages by the Ekiti State Coordinator, NESREA, Mrs. Toroni Abosede; the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) and Director of the OGEES Institute, Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN; and the Team Lead of the TGED Foundation, Oluwaseyi Ebenezer. The keynote lecture was delivered by Professor Bayo Oluduro of the Adekunle Ajasin University. In his lecture, Oluduro emphasised how a wide range of legislation and instruments in Nigeria already place significant emphasis on the importance of living cleaner, greener and sustainable lifestyles in harmony with nature. He noted that this year’s celebration therefore provides a timely reminder that protecting the environment and maintaining its balance is our best interest, so all stakeholders in public and private sectors must come together to collaboratively address all naturogenic and human driven sources of pollution that degrade the environment.

The keynote lecture was followed by an insightful panel discussion which featured the Managing Director of Waste Masters Integrated Services, Dr. Mrs Ade-Ojo; Professor Wole Adebayo of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti; Dr. Oluwaseyi Akpor of the Faculty of Nursing Sciences, ABUAD; and the Executive Director of Green Global Environmental Network, Dr. Sikiru Olowoyo. The panel discussion provided expert analysis and solutions to identified environmental problems across Nigeria and how stakeholders can collaboratively implement SDG initiatives in preventing future occurrence.

In her remarks, the State Coordinator, NESREA, Mrs. Toroni Abosede noted that “The World Environment Day celebration provides a timely opportunity to sensitize the participants who were drawn from all sectors across the State on the important toles they can play in protecting the environment. It is our hope that the programme will have long-lasting positive impact on the participants whom have been sensitised on how best to treat their immediate environment as the ‘only one earth’” She concluded.

On his part, the Director of OGEES Institute, Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN noted that “SDG 17 underscores the importance of enhanced partnerships between all stakeholders in order to advance collective action on all of the SDGs. Today’s event, which was organized by partners in government, academia, and civil society, is a classic demonstration of the power of collective action in order to sustain public awareness and momentum for global sustainable development action. ABUAD has made an institutional commitment to the SDGs, and we very much look forward to sustaining our high-impact research, training, and public dialogue on SDG implementation in Nigeria.”

Similarly, the Team Lead of the TGED Foundation, Oluwaseyi Ebenezer noted that “the impacts of global environmental challenges are already being seen, with changing weather pattern such as more rainfall and higher temperature, drought, and floods all of which have become more obvious. The urgent need to both adapt to these changing conditions, and to mitigate environmental degradation is a priority for TGED, NESREA, and OGEES Institute (ABUAD). We therefore look forward to organizing more collaborative programs that will sensitize the public on what they can do to support environmental protection at personal, domestic and community levels.”