Experts and stakeholders gathered at Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law CPEEL, University of Ibadan to discuss effective policy framework to combat land degradation and desertification in Nigeria.
The position on the need for effective policy framework and community engagement to combat land degradation was made known at the One Day Hybrid Conference on the World Environment Day 2024 organized by the Natural Resources, Energy and Environment (NREEL) of the International Law Association (Nigerian branch).
“Critical knowledge gaps hinder effective land restoration, demanding urgent investment in research that not only addresses the gaps in understanding land degradation problems but also values and integrates the wisdom of traditional knowledge and heritage.
This integration should also extend to the legal framework, ensuring clear comprehension by community stakeholders who are fundamental to the fight against land degradation. There is also a need for everyone to move beyond discussions of sustainable practices and make concrete actions and long-term implementation strategies which are crucial for achieving lasting success, with the understanding that everyone has a role to play in this critical endeavour”.
These recommendations were made at the conference discussion to commemorate the World Environment Day 2024. The World Environment Day is an annual event led by the United Nations Environment Programme and held annually on 5 June worldwide to promote global awareness on environmental issues.
Themed Our Land, Our Future: Land Restoration, Desertification And Resilience, a one day hybrid conferenceorganized by the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Environment (NREEL) of the International Law Association (Nigerian branch) chaired by Ms. Oluwaseyi Ebenezer hosted by Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL) University of Ibadan in partnership with Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES Institute) and Triple Green Environment Development Foundation (TGED Foundation). Ms. Oluwaseyi Ebenezer, the convener of the World Environment Day Conference 2024 welcomed the participants and emphasized the conference theme. In her speech, she highlighted the urgent need for sustainable land management and the critical role individuals play in combating desertification and land degradation encouraging active participation, collaboration, and innovation among participants, stressing the importance of holistic approaches, robust legal frameworks, inclusive policies, and community engagement. Ms. Oluwaseyi Ebenezer expressed her confidence that the conference discussions would inspire and equip participants with new knowledge and ideas to tackle pressing environmental issues, calling for collective efforts towards environmental sustainability and resilience.
The conference featured a compelling keynote lecture by Dr. Walter Nsoh, Associate Professor of Energy and Environmental Law, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. He emphasized on the theme as it combines our actions that affect land and lead to land degradation and the consequences attached to it. He highlighted that we can’t talk about land degradation without mentioning issues surrounding climate change such as flooding and to resolves these issues, there is a need to put good restoration and resilience plan in place which should be a global action and everyone has a role to play. He concluded his speech emphazing that farmers should no longer see themselves as food producers but as integrated managers who manages wild range of ecosystem services and good that are beneficial to man.
Following the keynote address, two high-level panel discussions featured prominent experts from academia, government, and civil society – Godswill Agbaitoro, PhD, Lecturer, Energy and Environmental Law, University of Essex, Jumoke Olowookere, Founder The Waste Museum, Patricia Ubiaza-Eze, Principal Partner, Patricia Ubiaza-Eze and Co, Adedoyin Adeleke PhD, Founder and Executive Director Green Growth Africa, Nenritmwa Gotodok, Secretary NREEL Committee, ILA Nigeria Branch, Managing Partner, The Sophisticated Legal Hub and Co-Founder, Green Voices for Green Planet Initiative, Dr. Afolasade Adewumi, Reader/Associate Professor, Department of International Law, University of Ibadan, Dr. Peter Oniemola, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law and Programme Coordinator, CPEEL University of Ibadan, Agbo Chinonso Bathlomeo, Director of Programmes and Projects at the Batnon Center for Environment and Sustainable Development. The panelists discussed the environmental and social impacts of desertification and land degradation, explored existing legal frameworks, and emphasized the importance of community engagement in building resilience for land restoration and environmental protection. The conference also included a quiz competition for students from Ajibode Grammar School and Community Grammar School, Ajibode.
Founded in Brussels in 1873, the International Law Associationis a non-governmental organization with over 4,500 members across 45 national and regional branches worldwide. The Nigerian Branch of the ILA is dedicated to promoting the study and understanding of international law in Nigeria through lectures, seminars, conferences, and other capacity-building programs.
For more information about the conference or the Nigerian Branch of the ILA, please visit www.ila-hq.org