News
NCF holds 22nd Chief S.L. Edu Memorial lecture in Lagos
In ensuring a better environment for all, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), held the 22nd Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture on carbon credit while calling on companies and governments to adopt sustainable practices to reduce carbon emissions in the country.
The NCF National Executive Council Chairman, Hon. Justice (Mrs.) Bukola Adebiyi, while giving her welcome address, said that there were numerous environmental issues which needed urgent attention.
According to her, “it is important that we pause and reflect on how we can individually and collectively commit to and make a positive impact and difference to these numerous and interrelated environmental issues. We all can by making responsible choices, adopting sustainable practices; such as reducing our carbon footprint protecting natural habitats, phasing out the use of single use plastics.
“All these sustainable practices can be made towards safeguarding the earth for future generations,” she said. Adebiyi who said that environmental problems were numerous and serious, added that it required urgent attention. She said that forest cover in Nigeria had reduced from 1O to six percent within the last three decades.” She added.
“Species loss remains on the increase as they lose their natural habitat, loss of biodiversity, Greenhouse Gas emissions, which leads to the trapping of heat and leads to global warming. Others are climate change, which causes rising sea levels, extreme weather events, land degradation, freshwater shortage and food insecurity.” she added.
“Other human activities that affect the environment are industrialization, air Pollution, water contamination and pollution, improper waste management, urbanization to mention a few,” she concluded.
The Guest Lecturer, Mr Kevin Juma, Africa Climate Director, The Nature Conservancy, Nairobi, Kenya, said that Carbon credit is a certificate given for helping in reducing or avoiding emission.
“It is one time certificate that represents emission reduction and avoidance tradable in a marketplace known as the carbon market. The opportunities are massive, there is untapped natural resources in this continent. 20% of the world forest are formed in Africa. We have savannah land that is carrying most of our resources which has reduced due to urbanization.”
“By compensating or encouraging those who participate in carbon credit, we have the chance to make our fertile land more productive,” he said.
He added that there was a lot of opportunities in Africa. “The market is untapped and there is a lot of opportunities. Remember Africans don’t rarely participate in a program like this and there is a need for voluntary participants.
“They need to be aware of the opportunities in order to tap into the global market, however, we need to develop high quality project to achieve untapped opportunities,” he said.
When asked how Nigeria can reduce carbon emission, Juma said that at first, a national evaluation and an examination of the threat level was required.
“Additionally, NGOs can be very helpful in this issue by helping to restore our natural areas and grasslands while also helping to conserve them.
While delivering his lecture, Juma also said that the world must reach net zero by 2050 or earlier to keep global warming not more than 1.5C as called for in the Paris Agreement.
“Emissions need to be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050,” he said.
The NCF Director General, Dr Joseph Onoja, while speaking with journalists on reduction of carbon emission, he said that Nigeria had what we called the nationally determine contribution which was a voluntary decision.
“A decision by every country that signed on to the Paris agreement and one of the way Nigeria has signed up to reduce those emissions is to look at different sectors. The sector in terms of transportation, manufacturing and as well as agricultural sector.”
“In fact, when you look at the agricultural sector, instead of cutting down trees to plant, there is what we call agro forestry where you must do it together. In terms of the transportation sector, you will look at the introduction of the CNG buses instead of continuously using fossil fuel buses,” he added.
He said that these were ways Nigeria could easily cut down emissions.
“One of the major ways we citizens can perform our responsibilities is to plant trees. Apart from planting trees, we need to nurture these trees and the ones that are standing we need to stop cutting them down because it is very important and that lies in our hands,” he said.
Present at the memorial lecture were top brass in the environmental space.
NCF pursues the conservation of nature and its resources with the aim of improving the quality of human life both in the present and the future. The organization core values include reliability, accountability, excellence, environmental responsiveness and commitment to conservation.
The organization is under the legal ownership of a Board of Trustees under the able leadership of President Izioma Phillip Asiodu CFR, CON who along with other Trustees have managed the organization’s assets and carried out its purposes for the past 40years.
The Organization is governed by a Board, the National Executive Council (NEC) made up of captains of Industry, accomplished and committed men and women recently headed by my humble self who provide strategic direction to help the organization achieve its purpose.
The day-to-day management is under the leadership of the Director General; Mr. Joseph Onoja. Ph.D who leads a formidable management of team and staff.
The lecture with the theme “Carbon Credit: Opportunities and Pitfalls” was organised by NCF in partnership with the family of late Chief S.L. Edu, and was sponsored by Chevron Nigeria Ltd. The event was well attended by Vice Chancellors of universities, government officials and others.
Crime
Stampede: Court grants N10m bail each to Naomi Silekunola, Hamzat
The Oyo state high court has granted bail to Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife; and Oriyomi Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM.
The duo, alongside the principal of the Islamic High School, were each granted bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum.
Ibadan Stampede: Court fixes date for bail of Ooni of Ife’s ex-Queen, Naomi, Oriyomi Hazmat
The trio are standing trial for their alleged roles in a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan in December, which claimed the lives of over 30 people, most of them children.
The defendants were remanded at Agodi correctional centre on December 24 after being charged with four counts bordering on conspiracy, negligence causing harm, and failing to provide adequate security and medical facilities.
News
Lagos HoA: Obasa Impeached, Mojisola Elected + Video
The Lagos State House of Assembly has impeached Mudashiru Obasa as speaker. Naija Gatekeeper News just learned.
To avoid a vacuum, the lawmakers elected Mojisola Meranda, representative of Apapa I, as the new speaker.
This is a developing story. Stay with us.
Meranda would serve as the first speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly if her election stands.
Business
FG expresses commitment to building strong, vibrant capital market
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing the capital market as a means to foster wealth creation for Nigerians and support national development.
Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of State for Finance, made this assertion during a recent meeting with the board members of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Abuja over the weekend.
In a statement released by SEC, Uzoka-Anite noted that the Ministry has received a directive from the President to cultivate a dynamic capital market that stimulates economic growth and plays a crucial role in national development.
According to her, “if we are to achieve the renewed hope mandate of a $1 trillion economy, it has to be through the capital market. It has to be private sector driven and that private sector drive is the capital market.
“A number of investors we had met previously in my former role were interested in the capital market. They want the market to be resilient enough to accommodate primary offers for them to exit when they come in. We are here to say that the market is open to accommodate them and we are committed to strengthening the capital market to make it more robust and ensure that investor confidence returns to the market. That is one area you need a lot of support and I think we can do that as it is fundamental for you”.
The Minister assured the SEC Board that the Federal Government is committed to supporting the Commission to ensure that the capital market realizes its full potential, drives the economy and creates wealth for Nigerians.
In his remarks, Chairman of the board of the SEC, Mr. Mairiga Katuka disclosed that the purpose of the meeting was to familiarize with the Minister and to solicit for close cooperation aimed at fostering a strong relationship between the SEC and the Ministry of Finance for the purpose of promoting a resilient and vibrant capital market.
Katuka emphasized the need for strengthened collaboration between the SEC and its supervising authority, adding that this is necessary to ensure the entrenchment of a policy environment conducive to sustainable growth in the capital market.
He said: “The capital market is key in achieving the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and harnessing available potentials in the market to boost national economic development.
“As the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market, the SEC is saddled with the dual responsibility of regulating and developing the market with a view to attracting investments for wealth creation and supporting Nigeria’s developmental objectives”.
He stated that the Commission is currently going through reforms, which are necessary to make it attain world-class status and maintain its pride of place amongst its peers, adding that the Board will be counting on the support of the Minster in driving the reforms in order to achieve the targeted outcomes.
“Please be assured of the commitment of the Board of the Commission to support the Federal Government’s economic diversification and financial inclusion agenda.
“As a Board, we shall look forward to engaging in sustained dialogue and partnership to drive growth and investor confidence in the Nigerian capital market and the economy generally. I thank you for receiving the Board of the Commission and solicit for your continued support of the SEC and its initiatives,” he added.
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