Lagos floats sustainability summit to champion city’s resilience

•‘This effort will shape the future of our State’ — Finnih
•Summit holds September

Lagos State Government has floated a new initiative that will advance its vision to create a resilient and sustainable approach towards realisation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Office of Sustainable Development Goals (OSDG), on Thursday, launched Lagos Sustainability Summit — a yearly multidisciplinary forum designed to advance strategies and create actionable pathways to build a more equitable, inclusive and prosperous Lagos.

The Summit, coming up in the second week of September at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, is being organised in collaboration with Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).

The event with the theme: “Building a Resilient and Sustainable Lagos”, will host a diverse range of stakeholders, including governmental bodies, private sector leaders, civil society organisations, and international partners, to share ideas, generate fresh insights and collaborate on innovative solutions to address critical sustainability challenges.

The summit is expected to chart a course for Lagos to emerge as a model for sustainable urban development anchored on social equity, economic prosperity and environmental stewardship.

Addressing journalists at a pre-event conference held Thursday, at Radisson Hotel in Ikeja, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, said the summit would bring fresh impetus to the State Government’s drive to strategically reposition Lagos towards advancing its vision of becoming a resilient and sustainable city.

Through the initiative, she said the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals would be championing ethical business practices that must have positive social impact, stressing that any effort aimed at achieving economic growth in the State must go hand in hand with moral and social responsibilities.

Finnih said the Lagos Sustainability Summit would serve as a call to action and a roadmap guiding the State Government’s efforts to forge a prosperous, equitable and environmentally sustainable city where citizens would have the opportunity to succeed.

She said: “As we stand at the forefront of a transformative journey, Lagos is launching a Sustainability Summit that stands as a testament to our collective resolve. The summit will focus on key areas that will demonstrate the Government’s commitment to sustainability, showcasing strategic initiatives and policies that reflect our dedication to sustainable development. Through the event, we will be fostering social cohesion by ensuring equitable participation of communities in sustainability efforts.

“We will be promoting ethical business practices that will enable positive social impacts, fair labour standards and community engagement initiatives that drive positive social impacts. The summit will enhance sustainable finance, while encouraging investments in projects that support the SDGs and integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria into financial decision-making. We seek to build resilient networks that support responsible waste management and local sourcing. and ethical labor practices.”

Finnih said human communities, more than ever, stood at crossroads, given the shift in global dynamics, impacts of climate change and technological advancement. This, she pointed out, had been making cities devising innovative ways to make their communities thrive in emerging competitive environments.

The Special Adviser said Lagos was faced with the choice to rise to the occasion in order not to be overwhelmed by global changes, creating a platform for innovation, adaptation and actions.

“The summit is not just about dialogues but about taking decisive actions that will shape the future of our city. This effort is not just for us, but for the children who will inherit this city and who will look to us, not just as leaders, but as guardians of their future. We would be worthy of their trust if we build a Lagos that is resilient, sustainable and above all, a city that is filled with hope,” Finnih said.

LASEPA General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, said the initiative was not only intended to enhance sustainable business practices, but also to champion protection of the environment for the wellbeing of the city’s inhabitants.

Ajayi said the future generations would be proud of the efforts being taken by the State Government to bequeath a sustainable city to them.

LSSC Director General, Mr. Lanre Mojola, said part of the State’s urbanisation vision was to build a city with robust occupational safety and health standards, noting that the summit would be a major step towards making Lagos a safe city.