28 C
Lagos
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Home Blog Page 5

Forum calls for greater investment, partnerships to ignite Africa’s agriculture

Michael Simire
-
0
Forum calls for greater investment, partnerships to ignite Africa’s agriculture

The second edition of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) officially kicked off on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda, with speakers issuing a rallying call for increased investment and stronger partnerships to support the sustainable adaptation and adoption of agricultural technologies.

ACAT 2025
The African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) 2025

The four-day event running is co-hosted by the Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MINAGRI), and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), under the theme: “NextGen Ag-Tech Solutions for Africa’s Farmers.”

“We need supportive ecosystems – including enabling policies, investments in infrastructure, access to finance – and, most importantly, the voices and agency of farmers themselves must shape the solutions we develop and promote,” said Dr. Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, as he presided over the official opening ceremony in Kigali.

He urged all the stakeholders attending the conference to use the ACAT platform to not only share knowledge but also forge practical partnerships that can scale proven innovations and bring real transformation to smallholder farmers who are the true custodians of Africa’s food systems.

“Let us remember that technology is not just about tools and platforms – it is about people. It is about a farmer, young or old, in a rural village using a mobile phone to check crop prices. It is about a young innovator developing a drone to monitor pests and diseases. It is about a continent that believes in its capacity to feed itself and to thrive,” added Dr. Ngirente.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, said: “Africa can turn around some of the current challenges facing its agricultural sector. However, he maintained that no single country, institution, or actor can transform African agriculture alone.

“Transforming Africa’s agriculture can only happen if countries and institutions in the region collaborate across borders and sectors. African governments must work hand-in-hand with private sector players, research institutions, civil society, and most importantly, with the farmers themselves to birth and sustain a new era of farming and food production. It is a high-paced era that leaves no room for excuses. Africa must make progress and move forward,” noted Dr. Jonathan.

He pointed out that the future of agriculture on our continent is intricately tied to our ability to embrace and scale available and emerging technology. These technologies range from precision farming and satellite imaging to drone technology and artificial intelligence, digital tools and can revolutionise the sector.

“We are already witnessing promising innovations in this regard across the continent. In Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda, tech-driven platforms are connecting farmers to markets, providing weather forecasts, and facilitating access to credit. Yet, for these innovations to scale, we must deliberately invest in rural infrastructure, digital literacy, and affordable connectivity,” he stated.

Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Republic of Rwanda, emphasised that putting farmers’ needs and preferences first is a paradigm shift. It means placing smallholder farmers, the unsung heroes of our food systems, at the center of all decisions, investments, and innovations. It involves listening to their challenges, valuing their traditional knowledge and wisdom, and co-creating solutions that empower them to enhance productivity.

“Our policies and programmes in Rwanda are based on the knowledge that providing farmers with the necessary resources, information, and support networks is essential for sustainable development,” he said.

He pointed out that Rwanda’s agricultural transformation agenda has been informed by a farmer-centric approach, which ensures that useful innovations are accessible to farmers.

Dr. Canisius Kanangire, the Executive Director of AATF, noted that when farmer-centred technologies are implemented within a supportive and enabling environment, they significantly increase productivity, improve livelihoods, and drive economic empowerment.

“For over two decades, AATF has coordinated the formation and implementation of public-private partnerships aimed at facilitating development and access to agricultural technologies that address production challenges, enhance yields, and contribute to the continent’s economic growth while enhancing community health and wealth.”

Despite progress in research and technology development, the diffusion of these innovations to end-users, especially farmers, remains limited. Persistent bottlenecks are preventing the delivery of these innovations to market, which diminishes the return on investment in agricultural R&D and undermines the intended impact.

“Addressing these challenges requires deliberate action by high-level decision-makers and institutions across the continent to improve value chain optimisation and facilitate intra-African trade,” Dr. Kanangire added.

ACAT will continue to provide a critical platform for stakeholders who are committed to advancing Africa’s socio-economic development and food security through agricultural innovation. It stimulates conversations on sustainable pathways for developing, transferring, and adopting agricultural technologies among smallholder farmers to achieve rural economic transformation.

The Conference has brought together over 800 delegates drawn from the African continent and beyond. They include government representatives, industry thought leaders, policymakers, technical experts, private institutions, farmers, women, and youth.

The convening is expected to build momentum towards action on current discussions and recommendations on the importance of the utilisation of innovative agricultural technologies.

UN Ocean Conference: UNESCO urges nations to make education central lever for ocean protection

Michael Simire
-
0
UN Ocean Conference: UNESCO urges nations to make education central lever for ocean protection

On the occasion of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), UNESCO has called on its Member States to make education a central lever for ocean protection.

Audrey Azoulay
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

In Nice, UNESCO unveiled new initiatives, ranging from classrooms to video games, to raise young people’s awareness of the need to safeguard marine ecosystems. The organisation also strengthened its partnerships to ensure funding of those initiatives.

“To protect the ocean, we must change our relationship with it, and this change begins with education. UNESCO is supporting its Member States to integrate the ocean and the environment into classrooms and the daily lives of young people,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

Putting the ocean at the heart of classrooms

UNESCO has made environmental education a priority, to integrate it into school curricula and in the daily life of schools. The organisation supports its Member States – such as South Africa, Portugal and South Korea – in developing educational content on the protection of the ocean. With UNESCO’s support, Brazil this year became the first country to adopt a national curriculum, from primary to secondary level, dedicated to ocean literacy.

Presented in 2022 at the One Ocean Summit, UNESCO’s educational reference framework for ocean education has enabled nearly 2,400 schools in 48 countries to join the global network of Blue Schools. It provides a framework for schools wishing to integrate the ocean into their teaching, through practical activities and field projects. In addition, UNESCO has trained nearly 350,000 young people and adults in ocean protection issues.

Video games and ocean sciences: a new tool for learning

UNESCO has unveiled Ocean Heroes, a new adventure in the Minecraft video game. Developed with Minecraft Education and Voice of the Ocean Foundation, over 35 million players will be able to explore coral reefs, seaweed forests and mangroves aboard a research vessel, while facing real threats such as pollution and invasive species.

Through entertaining missions, young players will acquire practical knowledge of ocean sciences, biodiversity and conservation techniques. The game offers concrete scientific challenges to solve, develops critical thinking skills and reinforces understanding of the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems.

Increased financial support for educational and scientific programmes

UNESCO and the Prada Group have announced the renewal of their SEA BEYOND partnership, a global educational programme dedicated to spreading knowledge about the ocean and its preservation. With the commitment of both organisations, since 2019, the programme has resulted in the training of more than 34,000 students in 56 countries, as well as the opening of an ocean education centre in Venice.

Together, they announced the creation of a fund to finance projects led by young people on every continent, strengthening ocean education and culture within their communities. With an initial contribution of €2 million from the Prada Group, this UNESCO fund will be open to the participation of new partners in 2026.

UNESCO has also turned its scientific campaigns into educational tools: its pilot program on environmental DNA, which mapped 4,500 marine species in 21 World Heritage marine sites, involved scientists and local schools in sampling missions for three years. With the support of the Minderoo Foundation, this project will continue in 25 new marine areas protected by UNESCO.

Indiscriminate tree felling worries biodiversity expert

Michael Simire
-
0
Indiscriminate tree felling worries biodiversity expert

A lecturer at the University of Uyo, Prof. Edem Eniang, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, expressed worry at indiscriminate tree felling for timber and charcoal production, describing it as destruction of the environment.

University of Ibadan
Felled trees at the Heritage Park and Gardens, UI

Eniang said in Lagos that illegal logging increased in Nigeria in the past two years.

According to him, economic hardship contributed to the situation.

The biodiversity expert, however, cautioned that destroying the environment for a temporary economic gain would be counter-productive.

He said that illegal logging would have long-term negative consequences and should be avoided.

Eniang said that the environmental was being highly degraded by indiscriminate felling of trees as unpatriotic people turned mangrove forests to alternative sources of income and energy.

He warned that nature’s ways of reacting to such could be catastrophic.

“Violation of the nation’s forest reserves without regard to measures put in place to protect such assets depicts high level of retrogression.

“The environment remains the bedrock of human existence, and development efforts should be consistently geared toward its protection for sustainability.

“Renewable energy should be the trend toward better environment.

“Government should avoid polices that make people to dependent on trees in the forest as an alternative source of energy or means of livelihood,” Eniang said.

By Uchenna Eletuo

On the road to Baku: 13th World Urban Forum theme unveiled

Michael Simire
-
0
On the road to Baku: 13th World Urban Forum theme unveiled

UN-Habitat and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan have announced the theme for the upcoming thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13): “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.”

Baku
Baku in Azerbaijan will host WUF13 in May 2026

The announcement was made at the recently held resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.

Set to take place in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026, WUF13 will focus global attention on the housing crisis and underscore the role of adequate housing in building inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable cities and communities.

“The World Urban Forum is one of the largest UN platforms convening diverse parties to exchange, partner and act on priorities to promote sustainable cities and communities – in line with the priorities of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals – and is a truly transformative global urban coalition,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Assembly, which brought together 193 Member States and urban stakeholders from across the world to advance sustainable urban development.

Housing at the heart of sustainable urbanisation

The theme of WUF13 comes at a critical moment, with nearly 3 billion people currently experiencing some form of housing inadequacy, including more than 1.1 billion living in informal settlements or slums and over 300 million experiencing homelessness.

“We are determined to work closely with a wide range of partners to make WUF13 in Baku a major milestone for the global housing agenda,” said Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan and WUF13 National Coordinator.

As the world approaches the midpoint in implementing the New Urban Agenda, WUF13 will explore housing as a catalyst for more equitable and climate-resilient urban development. The Forum will also contribute directly to the 2026 UN Secretary-General’s quadrennial report on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Looking ahead to WUF13

Since its inception in 2001, the World Urban Forum has grown into the UN’s premier platform for examining the impacts of rapid urbanisation and sharing solutions. The last session, held in Cairo in 2024, brought together more than 25,000 participants from 182 countries and culminated in the Cairo Call to Action – a roadmap for sustainable urban transformation.

Transparency: A strategic tool for mobilising climate finance

Michael Simire
-
0
Transparency: A strategic tool for mobilising climate finance

Climate transparency is more than a reporting requirement under the Paris Agreement – it’s a strategic tool to unlock the finance countries need to meet their climate goals.

Simon Stiell
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell

As nations update their national climate plans (NDCs) in 2025, a new case study by UN Climate Change’s #Together4Transparency initiative, developed in partnership with the Centre for Clean Air Policy, highlights how strong transparency systems can help mobilize climate finance and drive global action.

The study shows that when countries embed transparency into their climate reporting systems, they can more effectively pinpoint investment opportunities in high-priority areas, identify financing gaps, and attract both public and private funding.

By aligning transparency frameworks with national priorities and capacities, governments can clearly demonstrate their climate progress and finance needs, building trust and enabling coordinated support.

The case study presents the concept of a three-part engine that drives climate action: 

  1. NDCs set national targets and estimate the cost of climate action.
     
  2. Transparency mechanisms track progress and identify gaps in action and support.
     
  3. Climate finance bridges these gaps, making implementation possible.


The publication focuses on Panama’s National Climate Transparency Platform, launched in 2022, as a compelling example of how robust transparency mechanisms can help unlock vital climate finance. This digital portal integrates climate data and policy information through modular, interconnected systems, ensuring consistent, traceable reporting aligned with Paris Agreement requirements.

Panama’s platform shows how national systems can embed Enhanced Transparency Framework requirements in a way that not only fulfills international reporting commitments but also supports NDC implementation and drives transformative climate action.

Read the full case study.

German state sued for failing to meet climate targets

Michael Simire
-
0
German state sued for failing to meet climate targets

German environmentalists have filed charges against the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg for allegedly failing to meet its climate targets, the Environmental Action Germany (DUH) group said on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Jürgen Resch
DUH managing director, Jürgen Resch

The non-profit, which brought the case to the state administrative court in Mannheim, aims to compel state authorities to implement an action programme before the next state elections in March 2026, in order to meet the self-imposed targets.

According to the Climate Protection Act of Baden-Württemberg, the state must reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2030.

This reduction is intended to help the state achieve climate neutrality by 2040.

However, last year scientists projected that Baden-Württemberg, which is home to many of Germany’s manufacturing businesses, including major car industry players like Porsche and Mercedes, was on track to miss the 2030 target.

The Climate Act also stipulated that further measures must be taken if an “imminent significant deviation from targets” is identified.

So far, the state government, a coalition of the conservative Christian Democrats and the Greens, had failed to act.

DUH managing director, Jürgen Resch, accused the state government of deliberately violating the law.

He proposed introducing a statewide speed limit on the Autobahn, a controversial issue in Germany, as well as energy-efficient refurbishments of schools and daycare centres as additional ways to reduce emissions.

UAE achieves 97.4% Sustainable Fisheries Index in 2024

Michael Simire
-
0
UAE achieves 97.4% Sustainable Fisheries Index in 2024

Abu Dhabi has recorded a Sustainable Fisheries Index of 97.4 per cent by the end of 2024, continuing a six-year streak of marine conservation achievements in line with World Oceans Day.

UAE
Recent marine monitoring documented key indicators of ecosystem recovery

The accomplishment marks an improvement from just 8.9 per cent in 2018, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS.

Recent marine monitoring also documented key indicators of ecosystem recovery.

Notably, 55 specimens of the rare nuaimi fish were recorded, along with the first sighting of the white-spotted grouper in Abu Dhabi – now added to the international Fish Base database.

Other rare species spotted include the large-scaled triggerfish and the spotted oceanic triggerfish.

To support fish stock recovery, the UAE has enforced internationally aligned regulations on commercial and recreational fishing and expanded marine protected areas.

Additional initiatives include coral propagation, artificial reef installation, and enhanced aquaculture.

Experts believe the index milestone demonstrates the value of science-based policy and global best practices in restoring fish populations and protecting ecosystems.

Abstain from tobacco products, foundation urges students

Michael Simire
-
0
Abstain from tobacco products, foundation urges students

The Executive Director, Cedars Refuge Foundation (CRF), Mr. Peter Unekwu-Ojo, has called on young Nigerians to abstain from taking flavoured tobacco products that pose dangers to their health.

Tobacco
A cross-section of students of Klinnicaps Academy and some members of the foundation

Unekwu-Ojo made the call during an anti-tobacco campaign at Klinnicaps Academy in Koroduma, Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

The theme of the campaign is: “Exposing Lies, Protecting Lives: Unmasking the Appeal of Tobacco and Nicotine Products.”

According to him, the campaign focuses on exposing the deceptive strategies of the tobacco industry.

“The campaign is aimed at combating the rising tobacco use among young Nigerians.

“We are engaging the students in an enlightening and interactive session aimed at unmasking the harmful realities behind flashy advertisements and flavoured tobacco products,’’ he said.

‎‎Addressing the students and school officials, Unekwu-Ojo denounced the manipulative tactics employed by tobacco companies, accusing them of deliberately targeting children and youths.

“These industries are setting young people up against their future. They sandwich their products with glamorous colourful packaging, enticing flavours and high-profile adverts, hiding the dangerous consequences of addiction.

‎‎“The educational session not only delivered hard-hitting facts, but also encouraged vibrant feedback and critical reflection from students.

“The campaign emphasises that the glitz associated with tobacco products is a smokescreen concealing long-term health risks and dependency

“Every child deserves a future free from the industry’s traps flavoured nicotine, flashy adverts and peer-induced pressure.

“Tobacco use is not a fashion statement, it is a death sentence disguised in shiny colours,” he said.

‎‎Also speaking, Mr. John Egla, Executive Director, Development Initiatives for Societal Health, reiterated the irreversible danger posed by tobacco use.

According to him, tobacco is a killer; there is no safe level of smoking.

He said that Cedars Refuge Foundation would be establishing Tobacco-Free Clubs in 10 high schools across Nasarawa State.

“These clubs will empower students with knowledge, peer leadership and advocacy tools to resist and counter tobacco industry influence.

‎‎“The 2018 Tobacco Atlas revealed alarming statistics that over 942 million men and 175 million women worldwide aged 15 and older are smokers, with usage rising across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria,” he said.

He attributed this growth to increased affordability and aggressive marketing strategies by tobacco companies aimed at vulnerable youth populations.

‎Mr. Patrick Ori, the school principal, expressed deep appreciation for the initiative, acknowledging the importance of early intervention and continuous education.

Ori urged the students to resist peer pressure, adding that the critical role of parental supervision in safeguarding their future could not be overemphasised.

‎The Dean of Studies, Mrs. Precious Ojiaku, urged students to uphold strong moral values.

She advised them to avoid falling prey to nicotine hooks and flavour packages that were designed to entice and trap the unsuspecting living a morally grounded life.

“Living a morally grounded life, avoidance is the most effective resistance against an industry that profits from addiction and suffering,” she said.

‎She added that the campaign marks a significant step in the broader Smoke-Free Campaign led by Cedars Refuge Foundation.

Ojiaku said that the campaign also targets hotel operators, market leaders, motor park managers, primary health care centres, influencers, policymakers and relevant stakeholders.

“It is important that stakeholders enforce the smoke-free provisions of the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act and Regulations, in collaboration with relevant enforcement agencies.

‎“The message is clear as well as resounding that ‘Tobacco has no place in the future of Nigerian youth’,” she added.

The high point of the campaign was the official establishment of a Tobacco-Free Club at Klinnicaps Academy, Karu.

The foundation distributed Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to support the club’s activities and empower students with facts and skills to stand against tobacco use.

By Blessing Ibegbu

Swedish beverage innovator calls for global citizens’ alliance to tackle plastic crisis 

Michael Simire
-
0
Swedish beverage innovator calls for global citizens’ alliance to tackle plastic crisis 

With the world facing a mounting health and environmental emergency from plastic pollution, Swedish water tech and beverage innovator, Bluewater, is issuing an urgent call to action: if governments cannot or won’t lead, the people must.

Philippines
Plastic waste pollution in the Philippines

Ahead of the UN Global Plastic Treaty negotiations in Geneva this August and the current 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France (June 9–13), Bluewater says the issue needs a powerful international coalition of citizens, scientists, health experts, NGOs, and responsible businesses to confront the plastic crisis head-on.

“Plastic pollution isn’t just a planetary threat – it’s a human health catastrophe,” said Bengt Rittri, founder and CEO of Bluewater. “We need bold, binding action to ban toxic plastic chemicals and end the era of fossil-fuel-based single-use plastic bottles. If governments fail to act, consumers must rise and lead.”

Over 600 billion single-use plastic bottles are produced annually, most ending up in landfills or the ocean. Now, groundbreaking research reveals that even so-called “biodegradable” plastics`’ are unsafe: a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that PLA microplastics can enter the metabolic system of gut bacteria, potentially triggering diseases like diabetes and inflammatory bowel syndrome.

“This isn’t a distant problem – it’s already in our bodies,” Rittri added. “We must mobilise together now or risk irreversible damage to human health and marine ecosystems.”

Bluewater welcomes the UN Ocean Conference’s theme – “Accelerating action and mobilising all actors” – and champions alternatives to single-use plastic bottles through cutting-edge water purification solutions for home, work, and play.

Mpox remains public health emergency of international concern – WHO

Michael Simire
-
0
Mpox remains public health emergency of international concern – WHO

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has disclosed that the mpox upsurge continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) set forth in the International Health Regulations (IHR).

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Photo credit: AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI / Getty Images

The announcement follows the fourth meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox, held on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

The Committee, recognising progress in the capacity to respond in certain countries, advised the Director-General that the event continues to constitute a PHEIC, based on the continuing rise in the number of cases, including a recent increase in West Africa, and likely ongoing undetected transmission in some countries beyond the African continent.

Ongoing operational challenges in responding to the event, including concerning surveillance and diagnostics, as well as a lack of funding make prioritising response interventions challenging and require continued international support.

The Director-General concurred with the Committee’s advice.

The Director-General also concurred with and issued the Committee’s revised temporary recommendations to Member States experiencing mpox outbreaks. The recommendations guide countries’ efforts to prevent and control the spread of the disease.

The full report of the fourth meeting will be issued next week.

The upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its spread to neighbouring countries was first determined to be a public health emergency of international concern by the Director-General on August 14, 2024. Since then, the Emergency Committee has met on three additional occasions, each time advising the Director-General that the event continues to constitute a PHEIC.

The list of members and advisors of the IHR Emergency Committee and previous statements are available here.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus. Common symptoms include a skin rash or mucosal lesions, fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.

The disease can be transmitted through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated materials, or infected animals. Treatment primarily focuses on relieving symptoms.

1...456...2,246Page 5 of 2,246

TV Report

Archives

2025 EnviroNews Nigeria. All Rights Reserved.

×