ADEQUATE WASTE MANAGEMENT ESSENTIAL TOWARDS ACHIEVING GREEN ECONOMY – UNIZIK VC, PROF. ESIMONE
The Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Charles Esimone, FAS has stated that it’s imperative that Waste Management which is a huge challenge to most Nigeria Society is tackled by all environmental stakeholders towards ensuring the goal of green economy is achieved.
The erudite Professor made this call during his welcome address on the occasion of the 2022 International Conference of the Faculty of Engineering holding at the University Auditorium.
Prof. Esimone stated that the theme of the conference, “Waste in Green Economy for Sustainable Development” is apt as it is quite apposite to twin environmental challenges confronting the global community such as burgeoning wastes, throwing up the challenge of efficient waste management and the adverse environmental impact of fossil fuels, prominent among which is climate change. Prof. Esimone opined that he is confident the conference would generate ideas and recommendations that could be useful in dealing with the twin challenge of waste management and clean energy generation.
In his address, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Joseph Nwabanne said that the poorly managed waste has huge and costly impact on the health, the environment and the economy. Prof. Nwabanne emphasized that the development of industrial eceonomy inevitably involves the production of waste, in quantities the environment is incapable of assimilating and transforming naturally. The scholar harped on the need to embrace green economy which will improve human well-being and reduce inequalities over the long term, while not exposing future generation to significant environmental risks and ecological scarcities. He concluded by saying that the conference will inspire ideas and discussions around the ways to bring environment and economy into a positive relationship and thereby making green economy a pathway to sustainable development.
Highpoints of the occasion was the Keynote Address on the topic: “Current Municipal Waste Management Processes in Nigeria – Time bombs for us all” delivered by the CEO Boskel Nigeria Ltd, Dr. Chukwukeluo Bosah and award presentations by UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the Faculty to Dr. Chukwukeluo Bosah (Keynote Speaker) for his outstanding contributions in waste conversion and reduction systems, Engr. Emeka Muoma Ezeh (Chairman of the occasion) for his administrative reforms in public procurement in Nigeria and Dr. Matthew Aneke (Lead Paper Presenter) for his contributions to waste-to-energy systems and low carbon technologies.