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REPORT
OF THE LEAD-NIGERIA INTER-COHORT ASSEMBLY HELD AT THE AUDITORIUM, CHARTERED
INSTITUTE OF BANKERS, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS, JUNE 5, 2000
This
year’s LEAD-Nigeria inter-cohort assembly was held on June 5, 2000, and as
planned, coincided with the World
Environment Day to commemorate the day with the rest of the world.
The assembly brought together Cohorts 1 – 8 Associates and Fellows of
LEAD-Nigeria to discuss programme related matters and networking opportunities,
within and outside LEAD.
The
Assembly was declared open with an address by the Chairman, National Board of
Directors, Professor Akin Adesola, in which he reiterated the rapidly changing
global and local environmental challenges that LEAD Nigeria Fellows and
Associates will have to confront in propagating the concept of Sustainable
Development.
A
panel-discussion was held at the Assembly to mark the World Environment Day
(WED) on the theme:
SETTING AN AGENDA FOR MITIGATING CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM: THE NIGERIAN
PERSPECTIVES,
which
was deliberately chosen in line with this year’s global WED theme:
“2000:
The Environment Millennium: Time
to Act”.
The panelists were drawn from Cohort 1 to 8 Fellows and
Associates of LEAD Nigeria, and presentations were made on the following
sub-themes:
(i)
“Desertification and the Nigerian Environment”
by Dr.D. Bashir (Cohort 2)
(ii)
“Coastal Erosion and Coastal Management:
A Challenge for Nigeria’s
Sustainable Development in the New Millennium” by Mrs. C. Isebor (Cohort 7)
(iii)
“Managing Industrial Pollution for Sustainable Development in
the New Millennium” by Dr. A. O.
Oboh (Cohort 3)
(iv)
“Biodiversity/Conservation and Nigeria’s Sustainable Development”
by Professor D. Olowokudejo (Cohort 1)
(v)
“Solid Waste Management: A
Challenge in Nigeria’s Move Toward
Sustainable Development” by Dr. O.F. Kamson (Cohort1)
(vi)
“Forest Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development in
Nigeria” by Mr. C.U. Okoye (Cohort 2)
The
presentations were well received and discussed extensively at the Assembly,
which came up with an Agenda for mitigating the nation’s environmental
challenges as articulated in the communique sent to the media for publication
(copy attached).
At
the Business session of the Assembly, there were deliberations on programme
developments and updates, on the Fellows Programme, LEAD International,
Networking and Partnerships, and developments at the National Host Institute.
The
need to take advantage of the Assembly to initiate LEAD-Nigeria’s Alumni
Association was reiterated, and a Cohort 1 Fellow offered to host an informal
gathering of all Associates and Fellows to
deliberate on this, at the next available opportunity.
The
Assembly was well attended by Fellows/Associates joined by friends of FEDEN and
media representatives. The media
gave the event wide publicity on both regional and national radio, television
stations, and print media.
Attached
are photographs and clips of media announcement and coverage of the event in
leading national dailies.
COMMUNIQUE
ISSUED AT THE END OF A ONE-DAY SYMPOSIUM
ORGANISED BY FEDEN/LEAD TO COMMEMORATE THE JUNE 5, 2000
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
BACKGROUND
The
symposium was organized by the Foundation for Environmental Development and
Education in Nigeria (FEDEN), a non-governmental organization that promotes
environmental awareness and sustainable development in Nigeria to commemorate
this year’s World Environment Day (WED).This was in fulfillment of the global
agenda of the United Nations’ General Assembly’s Resolution 2997 of 15th
December, 1972 which encourages governments and organizations worldwide to
annually, on that day, undertake activities
to re-affirm their commitment to the preservation and enhancement of the
environment for present and future generations.
The
occasion also served as a platform for the Annual Inter-Cohorts’ Assembly for
LEAD Nigeria Associates and Fellows. The
goal of LEAD’s unique training programme, both at the national and
international sessions, is to combine leadership skills enhancement with the
most current information related to environment and development. The LEAD
experience begins with a yearly selection process of mid-career professionals
from such diverse backgrounds as academia, business, government, media and
non-governmental organizations. To be qualified for selection, interested
professionals must be aged between 28 and 40 years; employed full-time; have
demonstrated leadership skills in their profession, in community or public
service; and with interest and commitment in environment and development issues.
Selected Associates, as the professionals will be called, will undergo a
two-year mandatory training programme nationally and internationally. Upon
graduation, the Associates will become Fellows.
The theme of the symposium was “Setting an Agenda for Mitigating
Contemporary Environmental Challenges in the New Millennium: The Nigeria
perspectives”. This was in line with the global theme “2000: The Environment
Millennium: Time to Act”. The
symposium which took place at the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Victoria
Island Lagos, was attended by the Fellows and Associates of the Leadership for
Environment and Development (LEAD) Programme, an international capacity-building
programme hosted in Nigeria by FEDEN.
Discussions
led by LEAD Fellows and Associates centered on the following environmental
challenges:
- Biodiversity
conservation
- Desertification
- Coastal
Erosion
- Industrial
Pollution; and
- Solid
Waste Management
The
meeting observed that:
(a)
Poverty, as depicted by the relatively low earning and purchasing powers
of the majority of the population, constitute a major cause of environmental
degradation. The government’s poverty alleviation programme is
well-intentioned and timely pursued. However, the
desired impact are yet to be felt by the masses.
(b)
Nigeria has a comprehensive set of policies regarding environmental
protection but has fragile infrastructure to implement the said policies.
(c)
Agricultural practices such as bush burning, tree felling, overgrazing,
etc. aid the acceleration of the loss of biodiversity, erosion and so on.
These practices persist because no sustainable alternatives are provided for the
largely rural and impoverished populace.
(d)
Remarkable achievements have been recorded under the on-going
private-sector-participation (PSP) initiative in solid waste management in Lagos
State.
(e)
Although, funds in forms of individual and corporate taxes are generated
by related government agencies for the purpose of environmental management, the
impact of such funds are not yet felt;
(f)
The alarming rate of desertification at the northern parts of Nigeria
poses a great ecological, social, and economic threats;
(g)
Pollution emanating from uncontrolled industrial activities in form of
emission of dangerous gases into the atmosphere and the discharge of untreated
effluent into public drains and subsequently, downstream water bodies constitute
a real and potential danger to Nigeria’s ecosystem; and
(h)
Efforts being currently made towards gradual elimination of the
ozone-depleting materials like chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) in refrigerant systems
and replacement with environment friendly substitutes by foam manufacturers in
Nigeria is commendable.
The
LEADers therefore, recommended that:
(a)
The area of environmental insurance though relatively new should be
further explored for potentials in mitigating risk management. This could also
be an integral part of
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which is now a mandatory requirement for
large scale projects’ implementation in the country.
(b)
At all levels, managers and users of ecological funds should be made
accountable for these funds through the publication of planned and executed
projects as well as the proper accounting of the funds by the government
agencies charged with their disbursement and utilization.
(c)
Government intervention in the implementation of environmental policies
should be on a permanent basis and not as an ad-hoc commitment.
(d)
The PSP programmed of the Lagos State government should be more focused
to encompass the four ‘Rs’- reduce, reuse, recycle and recovery;
(e)
The present scope of private sector involvement in waste management
should be expanded to accommodate such initiatives as waste recycling,
generation of biogas and production of organic manure for farmers and
horticulturists;
(f)
Sustained and aggressive enlightenment campaign programme involving all
stakeholders and aimed at improving on the gains the PSP programme should
immediately be embarked upon;
(g)
All tiers of government, the organized private sector, and other
stakeholders should urgently integrate indigenous knowledge related to forestry,
and natural vegetation into research activities on desertification and drought;
(h)
Promote agro-forestry programmes for the prevention and remediation of
erosion and desertification control;
(i)
Develop farming systems that combine optimum production with land
resources protection which are compatible with the ecosystems and socio-economic
conditions of the affected communities;
(j)
Undertake continuous inventory and assessment of land resources for
accurate land-use practices and monitor changes in the agricultural potential of
arable lands; and
(k)
The polluter-pay-principle must be vigorously and sincerely pursued; even
as agreed and practicable period of moratorium should be granted the industries
to construct/install effective and sustainable waste treatment and pollution
abatement facilities.
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