The Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) on Thursday unveiled a roadmap for a sustainable environmental future.
.The roadmap was unveiled during an event to mark the NES’ 40th anniversary and the society’s National Conference and 35th Annual General Meeting in Abuja.
NES outlined several strategies for Nigeria’s environmental progress, calling for stronger collaboration and public action.
Ms Sarah Mukherjee, President of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISED), UK described NES as a beacon of what can be achieved when a group of people come together with a vision and complete the hard work.
Mukherjee spoke about Nigeria’s contributions to Global Climate Action, commended the society for its 40 years of commitment to environmental advocacy, policy development, and capacity building.
“You should be rightly proud to celebrate 40 years of the society’s 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 said that many NES members have served on inter-ministerial committees, offered technical advice, and represented Nigeria at international environmental negotiations.
“The capacity of the Institute for Technology and professional collaboration has contributed significantly to the country’s environmental governance,” she added.
According to her, the institute also drew parallels between Nigeria’s environmental challenges and those faced globally.
She cited issues such as waste management, pollution control, and energy efficiency as “shared struggles that demand shared learning and solutions.”
Also speaking, Dr Efegbidiki Okobia, said that the milestone was a defining moment in NES’s journey.
“We are celebrating our first to 40th anniversary. For the past 40 years, we have made giant strides with different partners across government and the private sector,” he said.
Okobia recounted how the society began with 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 also highlighted the passage of the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria Act in May 2023 as a major breakthrough adding that the Act has given a voice to environmental practice as a foundation in Nigeria.
He revealed that NES had entered a strategic partnership with ISED to enhance capacity building, professional accreditation, and technology exchange for Nigerian practitioners.
Okobia decried the country’s worsening waste management crisis, describing it as “a national disaster.”
He called for legislation to enforce waste segregation at source, stressing that public enlightenment and strong institutional frameworks were key to reversing the trend.
The president revealed that NES will soon launch the Nigerian Environmental Outlook, a new policy tool that will track national environmental indicators and guide evidence-based policymaking.
“This is the beginning of another 40 years. Our roadmap will focus on practical implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions and ensure climate commitments reach the grassroots,” he assured.
Mr Hamid Adekunle, one of the society’s founding members, commended the current leadership for achieving the long-sought professionalisation of environmental practice.
He urged the next generation to prioritise research and innovation that would address Nigeria’s unique environmental realities.
“We were 10 when we started the Nigerian Environmental Society. I thank Almighty God that I am alive to see 40 years of the seed we planted,” .
“I would like to see the society focus on research and technology that reflects who we are as a country, let us look at the challenges of our regions and craft local solutions, not imported prescriptions,” Adekunle said.
NAN reports that key components of the roadmap include Strengthening policies, Promoting green transitions, Boosting engagement and investing in innovations.
