Zeniat Abubakar, Abuja
The Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) has announced plans to launch the Nigerian Environmental Outlook, a policy instrument that will track key environmental indicators and guide evidence-based decision-making.
The initiative, revealed by the President Nigerian Environmental Society, Dr Efegbidiki Okobia, during the Society’s 40th anniversary in Abuja, marks a strategic shift toward data-led climate governance and practical implementation of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
“This marks the beginning of another 40 years. Our roadmap will focus on implementing Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions and ensuring climate commitments translate into real action at the grassroots.” he said.
He also, reaffirmed NES commitment to advancing environmental professionalism, policy development, and sustainable climate action in Nigeria.
Dr. Okobia, described the 40th anniversary as a defining moment in the Society’s journey.
“We are celebrating four decades of progress. Over these years, we have built strong partnerships across government, academia and the private sector,” he said.
He recalled that the Society began with just ten professionals mainly from the oil and gas sector and has since grown to 35 chapters across Nigeria and one in the United Kingdom.
He commended the passage of the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria Act (2023) as a major breakthrough that has “given a formal voice to environmental practice in Nigeria.”
He also announced a new strategic partnership between NES and ISED-UK to strengthen professional accreditation, capacity building, and technology exchange among Nigerian environmental practitioners.
Dr Okobia decried Nigeria’s worsening waste management crisis, which he describes as a national disaster.
He urged the government to enact and enforce laws mandating waste segregation at source, while emphasizing the importance of public enlightenment and robust institutional frameworks.
Leadership in environmental advocacy
In a virtual keynote address, the President and CEO of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISED), United Kingdom, Sarah Mukherjee described NES as “a beacon of what can be achieved when a group of people come together with vision and dedication.”
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Speaking on the theme “Nigeria’s Contribution to Global Climate Action,” Mukherjee congratulated the Society for four decades of leadership in environmental advocacy, policy formulation, and capacity building.
“You should be rightly proud to celebrate 40 years of dedication to shaping national policies—from the National Policy on the Environment to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, It is a landmark achievement,” she said.
Mukherjee noted that many NES members have played key roles in inter-ministerial committees, technical advisory groups, and international environmental negotiations, helping to strengthen Nigeria’s environmental governance.
She also drew parallels between Nigeria’s environmental challenges and global issues such as waste management, pollution control, and energy efficiency.
While highlighting innovative solutions abroad, she cited Copenhagen’s flood adaptation projects where overflow zones were converted into flood-proof cycling lanes.
Delivering a goodwill message, Mr. Hamid Adekunle, one of NES’s founding members, reflected on the Society’s humble beginnings and remarkable growth.
“There were ten of us who started the Nigerian Environmental Society. I thank Almighty God that I am alive to witness 40 years of the seed we planted,” he said.
Adekunle commended the current leadership for achieving the long-sought professionalisation of environmental practice in Nigeria.
He urged the next generation to prioritise research, innovation, and locally driven solutions that address Nigeria’s unique environmental realities.
The milestone celebration, which also featured the Society’s National Conference and 35th Annual General Meeting, was held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Abuja.