2030 Agenda: Varsity Don Tasks Higher Institutions on Research, Devt

Funmi Ogundare 

A Professor of Forest Economics and Sustainable Development at the University of Ibadan, Labode Popoola, has stressed the need for higher institutions in the country to adjust their ways, attitudes and practices so as to remain relevant in the areas of intensive research and development, teacher training and those of skilled manpower that will make use of adapted technologies from abroad.

Popoola made this known recently, at a two-day national conference on agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), themed, ‘At the midpoint of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals: Which Way Nigeria and Africa?’. It was organised by Lagos State University Centre for the Actualisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (LASU-SDG).

Popoola stated that intensive research and development contribute to innovations and technological breakthroughs, thereby helping to achieve sustainable development

“For instance, China increased its investment in research and development, and it has been able to invent an electric train which transports people at 200 miles per hour. This is an example of how higher education can help achieve sustainable development, as this feat reduces significantly, carbon in the environment,” he said

The don who is a former vice-chancellor, Osun State University, Osogbo, added that the university has a role to train teachers to be skilled in the use of technologies which will  enable them teach the vast number of students who will also be making use of these technologies. 

He expressed concern that sustainable development will encounter problems such as poverty, climate change and food scarcity at the local level, adding that locally made solutions  must be provided by the higher education institutions to resolve them, to achieve the sustainable development goals. 

The United Nations resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Matthias Schmale noted that the 2030 agenda will become no more than a broken promise to the world’s most vulnerable people despite the  challenges of poverty and unemployment. 

Africa, he noted remains a continent of hope and Nigeria a country of hope, because the long-term structural endowments of Africa are strong. “Africa also is the best investment proposition of the 21st century,” he stated, adding that the UN is looking forward to new initiatives introduced by the Nigerian government on achieving SDGs in the next global summit to be held in New York.

The Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello stated that the conversations from the conference will be imperative to address the myriads of challenges threatening the existence of people. She expressed concern that for the first time in decades, development progress is  reversing under the combined impacts of climate disasters, conflict, economic downturn and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to her, “inequalities have worsened, strikingly so for women and girls. Tens of millions have fallen into poverty. Hunger and malnutrition are on the rise. Humanitarian needs and displacement are at record levels. Digital divides are crippling global potential. And we are hurtling towards ever-greater climate and environmental catastrophe.”

According to her, to overcome these challenges requires an unwavering resolve to work for the global good. ” This conference is coming at the right time and at the right place. Together, as a community, a state, a nation and a people, we must fight for the SDGs. We must embrace transformation, and we must act now.”

The Director of the centre, Prof.Tayo Ajayi, noted that it has the objective of contributing to the SDGs both within the university and its environment. “The Lagos State University has keyed into this vision as a teaching and research centre with responsibilities of contributing to the growth and development of individual students, workers, stakeholders, governments and making global impacts,” he said.