UNILAG VC Advocates Collaborative Efforts, Research for Devt

Uchechukwu Nnaike

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola says achieving local and global development goals is only possible with collaborative efforts of academia, industry and government.

Ogunsola said this on Tuesday, at the opening of a Circular Economy Round Table meeting in Lagos.

The theme of the meeting is ‘Circular Economy Business Models for Sustainable Environment and Global Competitiveness’.

The round table is a collaboration between the University of Lagos and the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) on an initiative tagged Finland-Lagos Recycling Culture Research and Development Project (F-LRCRDP).

According to the vice chancellor, some of the key challenges facing many nations could only be tackled through joint efforts, with universities playing the key role through research.

She said tackling national challenges such as environmental pollution remained one area that called for global concern, hence the need for all stakeholders to join in the fight and proffer solutions for the way forward.

Ogunsola who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Research Prof. Bola Oboh, said that  universities are saddled with the responsibility of engaging in research and development to find sustainable solutions to societal needs and enhance national development.

“In 2022, we began interfacing with the University of Eastern Finland to drive collaborative research and we successfully signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to officially solidify our partnership.

“This MoU affords us the opportunity to conduct collaborative research where parties shall jointly seek opportunities to conduct scientific research, development, innovation and enterprise in the selected activity sectors of the economy as showcased today in the circular economy round table. 

“Furthermore, the MoU affords shared consultancies and collaborative staff development programmes, staff mobility and exchange programmes where parties shall share experiences and best practices on enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.

“It will also afford shared learning environment, jointly conduct colloquiums, lectures, seminars and international industrial research fairs. 

It is against this backdrop that we are hosting the Circular Economy Roundtable, as part of the Foundation for Finland-Lagos Recycling Culture Research and Development Project (F- LRCRDP).

“We convene today to deliberate on the circular economy, recycle culture and waste management in Lagos and Finland. We have invited government policy makers, industry players across the value chain and the academia to forge a path to sustainable waste management in Lagos and Finland,“ she said.

On his part, Prof. Pertti Pasanen, from the Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland said environmental issues, such as waste or solid waste management, material efficiency and preventive actions against negative effects of climate change were critical to the university.

“One point in our university strategy is rooted in global challenges to which we seek solutions in our profile area, through interdisciplinary research and multidisciplinary education.

“In order words, UEF has long history and tradition of environmental research and education. 

“Sustainable development issues are common worldwide and we observe a principle of sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources in the university’s  activities,” he said.

Pasanen who is also the principal investigator in the project, noted that collaboration between institutions and countries is critical in the fight against environmental pollution and global warming in a bid to achieve the much-desired environment, free from all forms of pollution.

“The on going international collaboration on FLR CRDP is an example of our university’s effort to participate and support other countries to develop solutions and practices for circular economy,” he said.

Also speaking, Prof. Mike Adebamowo, Executive Director, University of Lagos Business School said with a global circularity gap of over 91 per cent from 100 billion tons of raw materials extracted annually from earth, only about 8.6 per cent  was recovered and reused. 

“World Economic Forum (WEF) 2018 reports that Nigeria generates over 32 million tonnes of waste per year, including about 200,000 tonnes of plastic waste.”

Adebamowo, a professor of Architecture and the principal investigator for UNILAG on the Fiinland/UNILAG Circular Economy project, noted that a combination of the circularity gap and huge waste generation had resulted in economic fragility of developing countries.

“A focused and intentional approach toward circular economy, which triggers the creation of value chains for economic growth, can however promote resilient ecosystems in Nigeria.

“Emissions from the waste sector in Lagos is projected to grow significantly until 2050, due to the city’s rapidly growing population and residents’ rising disposable income and consumption. 

“Despite the projected growth in waste production, Lagos aims to significantly reduce emissions. 

“The largest share of the waste produced in Lagos consists of food waste, 45 per cent, followed by plastics, 15 per cent, paper, 10 per cent,  putrescible materials, 8 per cent, fine-grade materials , eight per cent, glass, five per cent, metals, five per cent and textiles, four per cent,” he said.

Dr. Kayode Bello, Director, Monitoring, Compliance and Enforcement, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, said that the environment and health were some of the key areas of concern to the state government.

According to him, the single use plastics is one of the key areas of challenge the government is working hard to tackle in the state. 

He added this single use plastics had caused a lot of environmental challenges that had led  various forms of environmental hazards.

“We at LASEPA have been working round the block to educate our people on the challenges these single use plastics are causing to the environment because we cannot ban them outrightly.

“The effective use of these materials are also very important to us because when you look at it, you will notice that those plastics could be used for various things that could create wealth.

“Before now, we have been dealing with a linear economy which is use and dump, but now, with this circular economy in place, we are relieved as nothing is a waste. We now have waste to wealth which is beneficial to us all and therefore this project by the university of Lagos and URF is very commendable as it will expose us to better environmental future,” he said. 

Prof. Modupe Omirin, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, said that the institution is concerned about the future of the environment.

According to her, the quality of the environment must be improved upon, so as to impact on human lives.

“We are concerned about our environment, not just the build environment, in terms of building, but quality environment because these things create value and also create health hazards,” she stated.