Centres of Excellence

CENTRE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND SDGs (C3SDGs)
IGBINEDION UNIVERSITY, OKADA.

The 2015 Conference of the Parties 21 (COP21) on climate change in Paris heralded a novel direction for Climate Change Action with the commitment to incentivize developing countries to engage in climate resilient development through the provision of climate funding and technology.  The mandate to implement the provisions of the Paris Agreement was set in motion a year after, at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties 22 (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco.

The implementation of the Paris agreement has come short of expectation with the inability of national governments to deal with the consequences of climate change. The prevailing alternative is hinged on the premise that the local governments with direct contact experience are better equipped to deal with the implementation crisis. This raises the nagging questions on the functionality of the local governments. While the expediency to fund local governments subsists, it is primary that institutions of higher learning drive the implementation of climate change action in collaboration with stakeholders. 

The Centre for Climate Change and SDGs was approved by the Senate of the University at the 180^th regular meeting held on the 6^th of December 2018. In 2019. The Senate also appointed a board to oversee the activities of the directorate. Members of the board include: Ambassador Tim Clark, Prof. Richard Michael Pagett and Dr. Eugene Itua. The maiden lecture of the Centre titled “Global Transformation, Emergencies, Dilemma and Decisions” was delivered by Prof. Richard Michael Pagett on the 28^th of November, 2019.

The Centre for Climate Change and SDGs Igbinedion University, Okada would complement the efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to introducing and implementing adaptation and mitigation measures that are relevant to trim down vulnerability to climate action. The SDGs component is to improve the stumpy implementation of the goals in Nigeria through mainstreaming the core values SDGs in higher education to drive research and development that are sustainable. 

Vision

The Centre is poised to becoming the leading institution-based Centre for driving climate action and implementation of SDGs.

Mission

To make climate change action and SDGs implementation the focus of higher education research for local, national and regional development in Africa. This is achievable through training and capacity building that accommodates non-professional and professional to improve life.  

Focus of the Centre

The activities of the Centre are focused on five key areas to drive climate action and enhance the implementation of the SDGs

• Climate Smart Agriculture
• Renewable Energy
• Waste to-Energy
• Circular Economy
• Climate Finance

RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE  

1. Plastic waste management    

The Centre in collaboration with MDS and Natural Eco Capital is promoting Plastic Waste Management and application of the circular economy principles at the university, its environs and Benin City.                                                                                                                           

2. British Council Grant 2021

The centre was part of the project applying the power of co-design to Stimulate Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientist (SETS Digital programme). The project was funded by the British Council.

Lancaster University, United Kingdom in collaboration with its African partner institutions – Igbinedion University Nigeria (IUO), University of Benin Nigeria (UNIBEN), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Ghana (CSIR) and Kenyatta University Kenya (KU) won the grant call by the British Council on the sub-Sahara Africa digital project: Digital University Africa. On the work strand of digital content, tools and platforms, applying the power of co-design to Stimulate Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientist (SETS Digital programme) was conceptualized. The project was to be delivered in three phases through collaboration by partners.

The project was concluded in IUO with a virtual meeting titled “Entrepreneurial Thinking – Foundations and Inspiration” on the 12^th of May, 2021.

3. One-Day Lecture in Commemoration of World Environment Day

The Centre for Climate Change and SDGs (C3SDGs) in Collaboration of with Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) IUO Chapter organized a one-day Lecture in commemoration of WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY with the Theme: Ecosystem Restoration on the 8^th of June 2021. The lecture delivery by Guest Speaker Farmer. Samson Ogbole, a graduate of Biochemistry IUO: Titled: Soilless Farming: A Tool for Sustainable Environment. The lecture also marked the introduction of Smart Farming in IUO.

4. Smart Farming in IUO

The Centre is setting up a smart farm for soilless agriculture in the University. The soilless farming project is designed to boost crop production and train farmers to be less reliant on the wet and dry season for crop production.

5. The Centre in collaboration with West Capitals Coalition Hub organized a webinar titled: Resetting our Relationship with Nature through Nature-Based Solutions on the 17^th of June 2021. This is with the view to promoting eco innovation and conversion of waste to wealth.