The Institute for Environment Research and Development (IERD), research institute registered by the federal government of Nigeria is dedicated to conducting scientific research on environmental and developmental issues.
Led by esteemed professors specializing in environmental disciplines, IERD has successfully hosted events at multiple sessions of the World Urban Forum, including those in Nanjing, China (2008), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2010), Naples, Italy (2012), and Medellin, Colombia (2014).
Their contributions have significantly impacted the final reports of the UN-HABITAT World Urban Fora for over a decade. This consistent involvement elevated IERD to a partnering organization of the African New Urban Agenda programme in 2013.
In 2014, IERD facilitated the launch of the United Nations Habitat’s report on the State of World Cities at Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria.
The twelfth edition of UNHABITAT has graciously approved IERD to jointly host the “Voices From Cities” event on November 6, 2024, at 9:30 AM in RoomD of the International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Cairo, the venue of the World Urban Forum.
This event will highlight the developmental achievements encapsulated in the “Voices of Nigerian Cities.” All 36 Nigerian states were analyzed, and cities with outstanding results were selected to present their voices at this global event, attended by over 25,000 participants from 181 nations. Dr. Wole Akiode, a former IERD research fellow and current head of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Kampala, Uganda, identified five key areas for the selected voices: city smartness, innovative development approaches, city prosperity index, security, peace, conflict management, and intercity cooperation.
Prof. Oyebanji Oyelaran, Special Adviser to the President of the African Development Bank on Industrialisation emphasized the importance of prudent governance spending and industrialization growth as crucial to African recoveryfrom extreme poverty. Dr. Marwan Abdulkarim, Executive Director of Della Sustainability and Resource Institute, advocated for grassroots, all-inclusive governance to elevate the Voice of Nigerian Cities globally.
Prof. Mathew Dayomi, a renowned urban planning professor, highlighted urban transportation as key to assessing urban governance.
IERD will present these factors for global debate and assessment at the Cairo summit. Mr. Oumar Sally, Director of the African Regional Office of the UnitedNations, and Dr. Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide, Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, will share their expertise at the event.
For more information, contact:
Prof Elvis Otobo,
Media Consultant,
Institute for Environment Research and Development, Nigeria
