Posted Fri, Sep 24, 2021 6:32 AM

Timeframe: Mon, Sep 27, 2021 7:00 PM - Mon, Sep 27, 2021 7:00 PM

As Nigeria ratchets up her activities on ensuring green growth, there is indeed an urgent need to also make ambitious plan to achieve a just transition in circularity drawing from the strength of its citadels of learning through the Nigeria Triple Helix Roundtable, a collaboration of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND); and more importantly, the private sector and development partners.

It is noteworthy to state that there have been pockets of research work delivered and published to mainstream Circular Economy from different faculties. There have also been exciting notes on the private sectors integrating the Circular Economy approaches into their operating model to drive sustainability. A good example to learn from is the major research programme encompassing 34 universities and 200 industry partners launched to catalyse the UK’s shift to circular economy, in May 2021. The National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) programme was supported by a £30 million UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) investment. This calls for an ambition towards strengthening University – Industry collaboration to deliver a holistic transition to circularity that is encompassing for environmental and social governance. 

Objectives

1. To engage stakeholders in a town and gown approach to discuss Circular Economy and Natural Capital for capacity building that will lead to greater uptake in the Universities and industries 
2. To provide an opportunity to engage key policymakers, corporate and political decision makers to develop new partnerships across multiple sectors that will champion a renewed frontier for Circular Economy and Natural Capital opportunities 
3. To explore the roles of Nigerian Universities and private sectors in the Nigeria transition to circularity for sustainable development. 
4. To drive the role of Circular Economy and Natural Capital in national Development