The sixth hybrid International Conference of the Unizik Business School has commenced at the ASUU Secretariat of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with its theme as” Climate and Environmental Challenges: Advancing the Frontiers of Disruptive Innovations in Africa”.
In attendance at the three-day conference were students, staff of the university and others who participated virtually and physically from within and outside Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Charles Esimone while declaring the conference open, said the theme of the conference is germane to the extant global focus in sustainable development, compelled by the thoughtless manners in which humankind had exploited the earth’s resources.
Professor Esimone noted that the pertinent question arises as how African countries can contain dangers of environmental degradation without compromising their own development hence the need for the conference.
The Keynote Speaker, Professor Mohamed Issami from Morocco, while speaking on the topic, “Climate Finance: A paradigm shift noted the damages of climate change on developing countries, many investment channels through which they can source funding to help them mitigate climate change and disclosed how climate funds have supported Morocco to become renewable energy leader.
The Chairman on the occasion, Professor Frederick Odibo pointed out that climate change and environmental degradation are cankerworms that have eaten deep into the fabrics of African society saying that the onus lies on us to protect our environment through disruptive innovation by cooperation, funding and as well as communities and government taking care of their responsibilities.
The Director, Unizik Business School, Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe explained that conferences of this nature are not just annual rituals, rather are among reasons that institutions as theirs are established adding that the gathering will among other things, bring about cross fertilization of ideas, in addition to demonstrating the convergence in most academic disciplines as well as how much researchers have advanced the frontiers of knowledge.
Mentioning the challenges and achievements of the Business School, Professor Onyeizugbe said they will continue to provide solutions to the world challenges through the framework of business education.
The Lead Paper Presenter, Professor Okey Ikechukwu who spoke on “Transcontinental Dimension to environmental challenges”, pointed out the eleven sinking cities around the globe because of man-made actions, of which Lagos is one of them, and stressed that for innovation to have positive impact it must have content and be people relevant.
Another lead paper presenter, Professor Valerie Nnodu, while asking all to be more friendly with the environment, advocates pragmatic paradigm shift in treating the environment as a business seeking for penalty for actions that disrupt the environment.
Award presentation to deserving individuals added glamour to the opening ceremony of the conference.
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