FG, scientists reiterate their commitment to green, sustainable chemistry

The federal government and scientists have pledged their commitment to achieving environmentally responsible management of chemicals and all waste throughout their life cycle by 2030.

This commitment was made on the basis that the production and accumulation of plastics and chemicals harm life on Earth.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefuire, at the American Chemical Society (ACS), Africa Regional Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry, organized by ACS chapters in Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria, on Monday in Lagos asserted that green and sustainable chemistry is appropriate and in line with the transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Recall that world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2015. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development envisions a present and a future that is economically sustainable, socially inclusive and be ecologically resilient. This vision was reflected in the formulation of the 17 SDGs, 169 objectives and 230 Key Performance Indicators. Taken together, the SDGs represent a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people can enjoy peace and prosperity by the year 2030.

Following the historic adoption of the SDGs, Orelope-Adefuire announced that the Federal Government of Nigeria has taken immediate action to achieve the SDGs in Nigeria. This is evident in the timely establishment of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) to ensure horizontal and vertical intergovernmental coordination; partnership development; resource mobilization and management; and monitoring, evaluation and reporting for the SDGs, she added.

Speaking on the progress towards achieving the SDGs in Nigeria, the Senior Special Assistant, who was represented by the Senior Technical Advisor on the SDGs, stated that Nigeria’s strategic approach towards the implementation of the SDGs can be seen at two different levels – national and subnational.

“At the national level, OSSAP SDGs work closely with federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to integrate the relevant SDGs into their sectoral policies and plans. At the subnational level, similar institutional structures have been adopted by the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Between 2016 and 2023, OSSAP-SDGs successfully institutionalized the SDGs in Nigeria through the implementation of strategic initiatives and programs, including the realignment of the National Statistical System with the SDGs.

“The SDGs are also integrated into the key pillars of the National Development Plan (2021 – 2025) and the Nigeria Agenda 2050. This will ensure that annual budgets directly finance the SDGs. We support 36 states and the FCT in their development planning based on the SDGs. To date, 18 states are receiving technical and financial support for SDG-based development planning. By 2025, we expect to have supported all 36 states in their development planning based on the SDGs. This will ensure that annual budgets of states finance the implementation of the SDGs at the sub-national level,” she revealed.

Orelope-Adefuire acknowledged that dwindling financial resources, the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing uncertainty across the country have all resulted in slowing progress in achieving the SDGs in Nigeria, while expertise and resources from the public and private sectors were sought; development partners, academia and broader civil society in support of the SDGs.

She, however, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to working closely with key stakeholders in a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the ACS Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter, Prof. Joshua Ayoola Obaleye, said the aim of the conference is to ensure that all African countries are able to follow this trend of green chemistry, adding adding that it is time for all Africans to see the green nature of this continent and never let it fade, but remain sustainable and fresh at all times.

To achieve this, Obaleye advocated that all stakeholders must work together in love and join hands to promote green and sustainable chemistry. “Green chemistry, also called sustainable chemistry, is a branch of chemistry and chemical technology that focuses on designing processes and products that reduce or eliminate the use and production of hazardous substances. Today’s small contribution will lead to our coastal expansion of tomorrow. I call on everyone to commit themselves to the scientific development of this continent,” he added.

“We eat plastic, which ends up in our bodies. This is dangerous to our health, hence the need to reverse the trend by establishing a Green and Sustainable Chemistry Committee, as an effort to develop, promote and nurture a departmental culture of green and sustainable chemistry through integration in education, research and community engagement. These initiatives will equip our students and researchers with the skills and mindset to be stewards in protecting the planet and model the essential role of chemistry for a sustainable future,” said Professor and Laboratory Director of Organic Chemistry, University of Minnesota, USA, Jane Wissinger, argued.

Meanwhile, critical stakeholders including Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefuire; Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola and Vice Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, among others, were honored for their contributions to green and sustainable chemistry in Nigeria .