This recommendation was made at the virtual International Conference on Environmental Law, Governance and Sustainable Development organized by the Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association (ILA) in partnership with the Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES Institute), Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), and the Green Institute, Nigeria to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the first global environmental conference held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972.

Themed “Climate Change, Energy Transition and Looking Beyond the Earth's Future: The Role of Stakeholders in Sustaining International Environmental Rule of Law,” the conference featured three insightful keynote lectures by WCEL members, namely Professor Nilufer Oral, a member of the United Nations International Law Commission; Professor Patricia Kameri-Mbote, SC, EBS, the Director of the Law Division of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP); and Professor David Boyd, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment. The keynote lectures were followed by high-level panel discussions featuring notable experts including the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan; Dr. Markus Gehring, Director, Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS), University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu, Director of the Green Institute; Dr. Jason McSparren, the Vice President of the Green Institute; Professor Hilary Bell of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar, and Dr. Emem Anwana, Research Coordinator, Durban University of Technology, South Africa amongst other expert panelists. The highpoint of the conference was an insightful green debate contest between students of the University of Benin and ABUAD.

While opening the conference, WCEL member and the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN said “This year’s conference is a timely wake up call for stakeholders, especially leaders in business, government, academic, economic, and financial spheres, to sharpen their understanding of the contours of policy reforms needed to accelerate safe, orderly, and inclusive low-carbon transition and green growth. The way forward is to integrate green growth norms into all aspects of decision making, financial planning and project due diligence. This will include dismantling barriers to gender justice, empowering regulatory agencies to better perform their oversight functions, and promoting a strong business and human rights culture in all key economic sectors.”

On his part, the President of the Nigerian Branch of the ILA, Professor Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN noted that membership of the ILA is open to anyone, including lawyers and non-lawyers, interested in international law. He commended the conference organizing committee for their tireless effort and commitment in advancing the study and understanding of international law in Nigeria.

The ILA was founded in Brussels in 1873. The ILA now has some 4,500 members in 45 national and regional branches around the world. It is headquartered in London under the leadership of the global chair, Professor Christine Chinkin. The Nigerian Branch of the ILA regularly hosts innovative lectures, seminars, conferences, and other capacity development programs to advance the study and understanding of international law in Nigeria. To learn more about the ILA, its activities, and events visit www.ila-hq.org

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Photo: Damilila S. Olawuyi