The Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola has said that government should be engaged at all levels to strengthen internal partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed this during an interview with CEOAFRICA 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) with the theme "Building and Sustaining Strategic Partnerships for the Achivement of the Sustainable Development Goals".
The 3-Day conference which kick-started on Monday 19th – Wednesday 21st August, 2019 at the Gamaliel Onosode Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Nigeria was aimed at strategizing, breaking of silos and forging of partnerships among various stakeholders, governments, academia, private sector and civil society organizations in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the world.
While speaking, Professor Babalola said "I am quite excited that Nigeria has keyed into the Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Am also happy that the University of Ibadan started sustainable development programme before the world goes into it".
"We have talked a lot and I think the main issue now is implementation. They have talked about partnerships.
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 partnership? So, everybody should try as much as possible to engage the government either at local, state and federal levels to really strengthen internal partnership before going external" the VC said.
She further stated that after the conference, they should have strategies to engage stakeholders to provide active partnerships on sustainable development in Nigeria.
However, while responding to question on whether Chrisland University is deliberating on setting up a Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV) in the institution, she said "I will be glad to do that as all hands are already on the deck about that. Infect, I have hinted the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan that they should be ready to give birth to a baby centre of CESDEV in Chrisland University soon".
Dignitaries who enlivened the conference includes: the Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Osogbo Professor Labode Popoola, the Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor K. O Adebowale; Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs; 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); 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; Professor Olu Ajakaiye, Executive Chairman, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building; Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan, Director CESDEV, University of Ibadan; 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; Engineer Shuaibu Isah, National Coordinator-IBB-ISDFC, Senator Peter Adeyemo; 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 discussed a lasting solutions to the sustainable development of the nation.
