A lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Wisdom Japhet has called on Nigerians to adopt practices that protect the environment and promote sustainable development.
Japhet made the call on Tuesday in Abuja on the sidelines of a training workshop on environmental standards.
The workshop was organised by the Sustainable Procurement Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Centre of Excellence (SPESSECE ABU), in collaboration with the World Bank.
Japhet, who also serves as the Director of SPESSECE ABU, emphasised the importance of environmental awareness in developmental planning.
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He said the goal of the training was to instill in participants the knowledge and capacity to integrate environmental considerations into development projects.
“The aim is to build capacity in the area of sustainable development.
“Every developmental activity must be sustainable. We are training participants to consider environmental impacts and provide consultancy for projects that may have negative consequences on the environment,” he said.
He added that certification in environmental management was becoming increasingly essential, as global standards now prioritise it.
“It’s very important for Nigerians to be both environmentally and socially aware. When you harm the environment, you harm people by extension,” Japhet stated.
He called on stakeholders in both public and private sectors to participate in the SPESSECE training and become certified.
According to him, the programme also equips participants with tools to anticipate environmental issues in projects, including planning for mitigation strategies.
“Most developmental activities have some environmental impact, and if those are not addressed, they cannot be considered sustainable. We must develop, but not at the expense of the environment,” he said.
On the issue of noise pollution, Japhet noted that everyone had a role to play in protecting the environment.
Also speaking, Dr Soala Martyns-Yellowe, an environmental practitioner, told the Newsmen that the SPESSECE project aimed to improve Nigeria’s capacity to manage environmental, social, and procurement standards.
He said the initiative was crucial as Nigeria strived to meet its development goals.
“The idea is to mainstream environmental and social frameworks into national systems,” he said.
Martyns-Yellowe urged relevant agencies to intensify awareness campaigns about the dangers of noise pollution and enforce existing regulations to mitigate its effects.