By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
A two-day international conference on ‘Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Management Strategies and Practices for Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability and Entrepreneurship’ has ended in Enugu with a call for collaboration among stakeholders to address peculiar challenges facing Africa.
The conference was organized by Faculty of Management Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
It held at the Peter Mbah auditorium, ESUT, Agbani, Enugu.
Declaring the conference open, ESUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aloysius Okolie, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chike Nwoha, described the conference as the first of its kind in the history of the institution.
Asserting that the theme of the conference is apt, Professor Okolie said the conference will further add to the body of existing knowledge.
In opening remarks, the Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Uche Ugwuanyi said the conference offered a unique opportunity for university lecturers to stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in Management Sciences, enhance their research capability and network with their counterparts.
Professor Ugwuanyi hoped that discussions and recommendations from the conference will provide valuable insights into how organizations can adopt sustainable practices, prioritize corporate social responsibility as well as promote environmental sustainability.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee for the event, Professor Norbert Ile, said the conference offered a veritable platform for cross fertilization of knowledge, networking for policy makers and researchers.
He said the conference will build consensus on important issues which would enhance skills,knowledge expansion, policy development, capacity building and encourage action on global challenges and opportunities.
In a paper presentation on the topic ‘Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Lessons learned from disruptive strategies and practices of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Anambra State’, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Kate Omenugha, said the SDGs represent a global framework for tackling some of the most pressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and others.
Professor Omenugha noted that with five years to the target date of 2030, Africa is far from meeting the set goals.
According to her, there is visible lack of intention to address the 17 Goals of the SDGs and wondered why higher institutions of education which should be the drivers of the SDGs appear to be lackadaisical.
The Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu, in his speech, believed that Africa can look inwards and find solutions to its peculiar challenges.
Other speakers were the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Dr Rabiu Olowo; Director General, Nigeria College of Accountancy, Dr Friday Akpan; and Professor Ambrose Anoruo from Texas, A&M University USA, among others.
The conference, which attracted participants from the academia, government as well as industry, is designed to serve as a platform for exchange of ideas on management strategies and practices for sustainable development.
