UN COORDINATOR SUGGESTS WAYS THE ACADEMIA, UNIVERSITIES COULD HELP GET THE 2030 AGENDA BACK ON TRACK
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale, has suggested three important ways universities could help in getting the 2030 agenda back on track.
He made these suggestions on Monday, 28th August 2023, at the opening ceremony of a 2-day National Conference on Agenda 2030 and SDGs organized by the Lagos State University Centre for the Actualization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (LASU-SDGs) in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Abuja, Nigeria.
The conference with the theme ”At The Midpoint of Agenda 2030 And The Sustainable Development Goals : Which Way Nigeria And Africa?” was held at Aderemi Makanjuola Lecture Theatre, Main Campus, Ojo, Lagos.
Mr. Schmale was of the opinion that Universities could help get the 2030 agenda back on track by ingraining sustainable development in their education and equip students with relevant expertise and skills; engaging in University based research that could create pathways to achieving the SDGs and new interdisciplinary approaches to old problems; guiding public policy onto a new sustainable path whereby government would come to universities for specialized talents and tools of analysis.
According to him “…As a trusted advisor, academia will have the opportunity to shape the designs of solutions and policies that can have genuine social impact in Nigeria”, he said.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi OLATUNJI-BELLO, mni, NPOM, in her address, affirmed that Lagos State University remains an institution committed to creating solutions through research and innovation for a better world and raising all-rounded young people who would add value to their world.
Her words “…The conversations that we would be having in this Conference for the next two days have become imperative for us to address many of the challenges that are desperately threatening our very existence as a people. Together, as a community, a state, a nation and a people, we must fight for the SDGs, embrace transformation and we must act now”, she stated.
Thereafter, the Vice Chancellor declared the 2-Day National Conference open.
Director, Centre for the Actualization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, (LASU -SDGs), Prof. Tayo AJAYI in his welcome speech, averred that LASU-SDGs has a vision of contributing to the realization of the SDGs, both within the university and its immediate environment.
Prof. Ajayi said “Our vision is to promote the Lagos State University as a Global Centre for scholarly training and research in diverse disciplines, which will be achieved through the provision of infrastructure, leadership, training and resources necessary to promote integrated scholarly activities and establishment of strategic partnerships with world-class institutions across the diverse sectors of society”, he added.
The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Labode POPOOLA, who was ably represented by Prof. S.O. Jimoh, stated that higher education institutions by design were meant to be solution providers and in this age of sustainable development, such tasks were better approached through multi-dimensional collaborative efforts.
Prof. Labode added that there was an urgent need to revolutionize teaching and learning.
Speaking further, he noted stakeholders would have to adopt a blended approach to course delivery and paying more attention to the virtual mode.
Furthermore, the Professor of Forest Economics & Sustainable Development added that “Sustainable development cuts across natural sciences, health sciences, social sciences, humanities and management sciences which are aspects that are already being thought at the higher institutions. What is required is integration and mainstreaming which also proves further, that in the age of sustainable development, quality higher education is required”, he added.
The Assistant Director, LASU-SDGs, Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi SOLADOYE, gave the vote of thanks.
The conference broke into sessions, where papers were presented on different topics, based on the theme.
The event equally had in attendance other Principal Officers such as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olufunso OMOBITAN, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Adenike BOYO, University Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel A. FANU, University Bursar, Mr. Said Babatunde OLAYINKA, FCA, and representative of the University Librarian, Mr. Tajudeen OKUSAGA.
Also at the event were the Centre Leader, Centre of Excellence for Sargassum Research, Distinguished Prof. Martins ANETEKHAI and former Dean, School of Transport and Logistics, Prof. S.G ODEWUNMI and some Deans of Faculties as well as some Directors.
The National Conference came to an end on Tuesday, 29th August 2023 at the same venue, with other paper presentations by participants and a communique was released at the close of the conference.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olufunso OMOBITAN, declared the conference close on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi OLATUNJI-BELLO, mni, NPOM.
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