GILBERT EKUGBE
With the United Nations action on sustaining development 14 and 15″ focusing on land and water ecosystem conservation and protection, the need for Nigeria and other West African countries to adopt practical solutions in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is very apt.
To achieve the set target, the organisers of the West African Clean Energy and Environment (WACEE) 20 has stated that its 8th edition of WACEE 20 scheduled for September in Lagos, will help Nigeria and other countries on the continent to determine the subregion’s desire for sustainable development can be met in an economically feasible manner using practical solutions.
Addressing a press briefing to herald the event, a member of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria (AHK Nigeria), Katharina Felgenhauer, said the event scheduled to hold for the first time in Nigeria is expected to bring stakeholders from the clean energy, circular economy, and water sectors together around the theme “The Business of Sustainability”.
She added that the event will feature a 2-day conference and exhibition, competitions, workshops, training, and open sessions.
She stated that in the past, the private sector approached the topic of sustainability through ad-hoc and short-lived initiatives in order to comply with regulations or appear to have green credentials.
According to her, this view is, however, changing, with more companies adopting a more holistic approach and treating sustainability as a core business issue that is critical for their long-term survival and growth.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Nigerian German Chamber of Commerce (NGGC), Mr. Gbenga Adebija, stated that the 90 German firms in Nigeria have recorded a turnover of $1 billion employing over 10,000 direct staff.
He also stated that Nigeria is Germany’s largest trading partner in the West African sub-region with a trading volume of 3.5 billion Euros.
“Part of our mandate is to grow trade volumes in tracks between €3.5 billion to €6 billion and we are hoping to put that in an upward trajectory.
This is why we are collaborating with AHK Nigeria on this very exciting initiative because we see it as an opportunity to deepen trade relations between both countries,” he added.
The Head of the Energy and Environment Competence Center, AHK Nigeria, Godwin Aigbokhan, said adopting sustainable solutions will require a rethinking of the nature of value chains, business processes, and consumption to reduce waste and conserve resources.
He added that with the topic of sustainability gaining prominence in the way companies do business, WACEE 20 will highlight the opportunities for individuals, companies, and governments in West Africa to create value by placing sustainability at the heart of their activities.
WACEE 20 will highlight opportunities for individuals, companies, and governments to create value through energy efficiency, water management, revamping supply chains, digitalization, e-mobility, waste management, plastics recycling, and other economically viable initiatives.
The event is expected to bring together over 2500 participants, over 40 top-level speakers and 45 exhibitors with a keen interest in exploring opportunities in the West African energy and environment ecosystems
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