Policy makers, researchers , Civil Society Organizations and stakeholders across the world has on Monday gathered at the 10th Annual Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit (ISDS) 2019 organized by the Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV), University of Ibadan in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) as they discussed way forward for sustainable development in Nigeria on the theme “Building and Sustaining Strategic Partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals”.
The 10th ISDS 2019 3-Day conference opening ceremony was held at the Gamaliel Onosode Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Nigeria aimed at strategizing, breaking of silos and forging of partnerships among various stakeholders, police makers, academia, corporate organizations, researchers, community leaders and civil society Organizations in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the world.
In his welcome remark, Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan, the Director CESDEV, University of Ibadan said “We welcome everybody to the 10th Annual Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit (ISDS) in Ibadan which is a summit about sustainable development. We are happy to have everybody seated here and am sure it is a summit to learning. One thing that is instructive to note is that the Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV), University of Ibadan was established in 2010 and when we started in 2010, the whole world has not started talking about the SDGs. The sustainable development started five years later which shows the pioneer attitude of the University of Ibadan. Since then, we have always been having this summit and our centre has been at the fore front of pushing forward this idea of sustainable development, not just through summit like this but also by writing people to a particular discourse that would be a development policy discourse. Experiences over the years have shown that, a lot of knowledge exchange and knowledge sharing has opened within the centre and the university. We thank everybody for coming to this 3-Day summit at the University of Ibadan”.
Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan, Director CESDEV, University of Ibadan
In his Chairman’s address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Olayinka Idowu who was ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) University of Ibadan, Professor K. O Adebowale said “The Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit (ISDS) has continually provided a forum for researchers and practitioners to convene and discuss activities that encourage sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels. The ISDS has since 2010 been addressing various dimensions of sustainable development and the way they shape humanity and the planet that we inhabit”.
Professor K. O Adebowale, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) University of Ibadan
“In order to achieve the SDGs, we need to forge strategic partnerships with all stakeholders in the actualization of the goals. One main issue of the past is that there is the difficulty in getting the relevant stakeholders acting together at the right time and place to solve complex sustainability issues. Sustainable development fundamentally involves different stakeholders operating at different scales, from governments, to private corporations. It necessary to have the right stakeholders working together at the right time and place. There is a growing realization that addressing these challenges will require stakeholders to come together. This coordination will address poverty, health, education, water, and other issues within the SDGs” the VC said.
The VC further stated that there is need to ensure responsibility and accountability for progress towards meeting the SDGs. Mechanisms to actualize this must incorporate all parastatals (public and private) and individuals. While the goals can drive global efforts towards a sustainable and poverty-free world, the SDGs are likely to fail unless far more attention is given to addressing challenges crucial to their implementation. We cannot continue to work in silos. Strategic partnerships and collaboration will assist in achieving the goals and leaving no one behind. It is my belief that this Summit will address these issues and provide policy relevant options and solutions”.
In his own introductory remark, Professor Labode Popoola, the Director, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN-Nigeria) and Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Nigeria said “The SDSN Nigeria, hosted at Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan is Africa';s pioneer SDSN has come a long way, organizing series of capacity building programmes nationally, beginning from 2013. The network has created five thematic research groups which encompass 5Ps (People, Planet, Peace, Partnership and Prosperity). These groups are Human well-being and economic development which comprises of (SDGs 1, 2, 3 and 8); Education, Empowerment and Gender equality( SDGs 4 and 5); Sustainable Cities, Infrastructure, Production and Consumption (SDGs 9, 11 and 12); Environmental health, Conservation of Natural Resources and Climate Action (SDGs 6, 7, 13, 14 and 15) and Social Justice, Inclusive Growth, Peace and Partnership (SDGs10, 16 and 17).
Professor Labode Popoola, the Director, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN-Nigeria) and Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Nigeria
Professor Labode further stated “It is instructive to say that SDSN-Nigeria has been building partnerships for some time and is poised to forge even more collaborations spanning across the academia, faith based organisations, community-based organizations, civil society, organized private sector, charities and foundations among others”.
In her opening address, Professor Janice E. Olawoye said “As we recognize the global nature of the SDGs, we must also remember the significant roles of stakeholders at the local level. It is good to see the involvement of NGOs at the Summit, as they are closer to the grass roots, and also that there is a special session on youth. Without conscious efforts to confront the problems facing the youth today as they try to secure a livelihood and a voice in the affairs of the society, there can be no sustainable development now or in the future”.
Professor Janice E. Olawoye
Speaking on empowerment about gender issues, Professor Janice hoped that through the summit, careful attention would be given to gender issues and women';s empowerment to ensure meeting the 5th SDG as well as benefits of all SDGs be accessible to all.
Professor Janice however appeal to participants at the Summit that they should be mindful of those who are not there to lend their voices and concerns to the discussions and try to build sustainable strategic partnerships that will provide a platform to also incorporate their needs.
In his keynote address, Professor Olu Ajakaiye, Executive Chairman, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building said "This programme actually requires revitalized global partnerships and that is to facilitate intensive global engagement in support of the implementation of the goals as well as target. And in doing so, is to bring together the government, private sectors, civil societies, United Nations system and other actors".
Professor Olu Ajakaiye, Executive Chairman, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building
"One important feature of this SDGs is the explicit recognition of partnership as an important means of implementation of the goals enunciated in Goal 17. In the elaboration of Goal 17 of the SDGs, several issues were covered including, finance, technology, capacity building, trade and systemic issues. The systemic issues covered include policy and institutional coherence, multi-stakeholder partnership and data, monitoring and accountability" Professor Ajakaiye said.
Ajakaiye further stated that the upshot of the foregoing is that in building partnerships, charity should begin at home. Sustainable strategic partnerships should be built with national and, where necessary sub-national stakeholders.
Professor Walter Vermeulen, University of Utretcht, Netherlands, a Keynote speaker who addressed the topic “the wicked problem of waste exports and imports in the context of creating a circular economy: the art of figuring out” he said “I see things graphically but brings me better insight. And in testing them with others, it gets us jointly to better insight. This is the time we need to get better understand on our world especially our world as a social phenomenon, in which we try to understand how we, as social beings, relate to our physical and ecological surroundings; We need to apply full system thinking. This may be one of the crucial approaches for Sustainability Sciences: understand the whole system, as a combined physical and social reality”.
Professor Walter Vermeulen, University of Utretcht, Netherlands
In his Keynote address, Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Economic and Social Research (NISER) said “Sustainability is always and everywhere a systemic phenomenon. System Dynamics (or simulation of complex dynamic systems) is a powerful technological enabler of enhanced sustainability in socio-economic and environmental systems”.
Professor Gbadebo-Smith however charged the CESDEV, he said “My presentation should be seen as a call to reorganization for the CESDEV. Especially its course offerings and curriculum. If this center is to realize its full potential, then it must move from being just a place of teaching to one of activism. Not only educating policy makers but positioning the country for a sustainable future”.
While speaking on the Importance of Strategic Partnerships to the Achievement of the Sustainable Goals, the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 6th Assembly, Senator Peter Adeyemo said “If democratic representation is effective and citizens are committed to engaging legislators for the alignment of policy outcomes to their policy expectations, the people then become the much sought after silver bullets for sustainable development”.
The Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola while commending University of Ibadan for being at the fore front of projecting sustainable development in Nigeria, she said “I am excited that the University of Ibadan started sustainable development programme before the world goes into it. We have talked about partnerships and I think the main issue now is implementation. How can we make the government implement what we have discussed on and we have zero-in on the fact that the government need to really step up to look into our own internal partnerships, It is time to engage the government at local, state and federal levels to really strengthen internal partnership before going external”.
Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola, Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State
She further stated that when this conference is done, they should have strategies to engage active partners to provide active partnerships on sustainable development in Nigeria.
Professor Pierluigi Bozzi, Coordinator, International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD), Italy said “The summit was a unique opportunity to highlight the need to design a research activity for the implementations of the sustainable development agenda. My expectations evaluation to this 2019 ISDS is that, am sure the summit has achieved a great research. The involvement of Nigerian Universities and also institutions is quite high, the debate on sustainable development was a deep debate and am sure that, with the involvement of the academicians, students and civic organizations in Nigeria would guarantee huge efforts in order to achieve the sustainable development goals”.
Professor Pierluigi Bozzi, Coordinator, International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity
Professor Bozzi further stated that collective actions, networking, partnerships and positive externality in the economy with stakeholders will enhance the formulation and implementation of the sustainable development goals in Nigeria.
Presentations were made by various resources persons at the summit which includes Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Economic and Social Research (NISER), Professor Risikat O. Dauda, University of Lagos, Professor Adeolu Adewuyi, Director, University of Ibadan, School of Business; Professor Walter Vermeulen, , University of Utrecht; Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs; Professor Olu Ajakaiye, Executive Chairman, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building, Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan, University of Ibadan; Professor Ngozi Odiaka, Co-Director, SDSN-Nigeria and Engineer Shuaibu Isah, National Coordinator -IBB-ISDFC, Senator Peter Adeyemo; Mr. Oluseye Oyeleye, Director General, DAWN Commission, Ibadan and Professor Agnes Antai, University of Calabar, Nigeria and Dr. Afolabi Emmanuel Olowookere, Head, Economic Research and Policy Management, Securities and Exchange Commission, Abuja among other resource persons who through their paper presentations provided solutions to the sustainable development of the nation.
Dignitaries who enlivened the summit includes: the Vice Chancellor of Chrisland Univesity, Abeokuta, Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola, Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Osogbo Professor Labode Popoola, Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) University of Ibadan, Professor K. O Adebowale; Professor Walter Vermuelen, University of Utrecht, Netherlands; Ms. Vannessa Fajans-Turner, Director, SDGs Financing, SDSN New York; Professor Olu Ajakaiye, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building; Dr. Folarin Gbadebo- Smith, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER); Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, Professor of African History , Peace and Conflict studies consultant, Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Ibadan; Dr. Ibrahim Barry, UCAD-Senegal; Professor Grace Offorma, Chair Thematic Group on Education, SDSN Nigeria; Mr. Adebimpe Aderounmu, Head, Operations Development Practices Academy (DEPRA); Fola Adebayo, Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) Abuja; Professor Adeolu Adewuyi, Director, School of Business, University of Ibadan; Professor Kehinde Kester, Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan; Mojisola Akinsanya, Executive Director, Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative, Oke-Ilewo Abeokuta, Ogun State; Dr. Funmi Akinyele, Executive Director, Food Basket Foundation International, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ambassador Caroline Usikpedo-Omoniye, National Coordinator, Civil Society Advance Forum on SDGs, Noble Delta Women Resources Centre, Asaba, Nigeria; Crystal Chigbu, Executive Director, Irede Foundation, Lagos; Professor Ngozi Odiaka; Dr. Christianah Egbeola; Dr. Opadeji Olusegun; Dr. Afolabi Emmanuel Olowookere and Aare of Ofikiland, Oba Gbenga Adeoye among other participants across the world who graced the conference to find a lasting solutions to the sustainable development growth for the nation.
Worthy of note that One-Hundred and Fourteen (114) Book of Abstracts were presented at the the 10th Annual Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit (ISDS) 2019 conference.
Drama and song presentations were performed to thrilled the participants at the level of the conference.
Cultural Display
