The Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre has partnered with building products company, Lafarge for the 2019 Lafarge’s Africa Sustainability Forum which held on July 16, 2019, at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group Summit House, Ikoyi.
The inaugural forum had other notable bodies like the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Geocycle as partners and focused on co-creating value for impact and looking for opportunities in the circular economy.
The event saw a gathering of representatives from the private and public sectors who are interested and engaged in achieving the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During his opening remarks, Country CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc, Michel Puchercos shared that the forum was organised to raise awareness and partner with stakeholders on sustainability initiatives, adding that these initiatives are germane to environmental reform and the circular economy.
Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in her speech, buttressed on the importance of the forum to the development of a sustainable society. She stated that both the private and public sector need to work together to achieve the 2030 United Nations SDGs while also iterating the need to create and improve ways to achieve a sustainable society for all and the coming generation.
A panel session was held to address issues on the circular economy as a means of building climate resilience through sustainable waste management. y. The panellists included Professor Chris Ogbechie, (Director, LBS Sustainability Centre), Daniel Adedokun, (Head, Geocycle, Lafarge Africa Plc), Dr Afolabi Abiodun (Director of Enforcement and Advocacy, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment), and Dr Eugene Ituah (Natural Eco Capital Ltd). The panel session was moderated by Bekeme Olowola, Board Member, Global Report Initiative.
Director of Communications, Public Affairs & Sustainable Development, Lafarge Africa Plc, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem launched the 2018 sustainability report titled Shared Value for Sustained Growth.
Director, LBS Sustainability Centre, Professor Chris Ogbechie gave a summary of the learnings and in his final note encouraged attendants to use the learnings from the forum to foster a more sustainable society.
LBS, through the Sustainability centre, brings together theory and practice on sustainability committed to equipping decision-makers and managers with the relevant skills to design and implement responsible and sustainable business strategies for impact in Nigeria and Africa.
