11th NCEH Booting…..

 

 11^th NCEH Booting…..

By the special grace of God, virtually all is now set for the 11^th edition of the National Conference on Environment and Health.  The Conference series is meant to fill two critical gaps that surprisingly persisted in Nigeria as late as 2016.  First was the need to stop treating key Environment-Health issues in silos with different specialties not conversant with developments in related ones. The second was the need for local stakeholders to own the enterprise and stop taking conflicting counsels dictated by various foreign stakeholders, often with different hidden agenda and interests.  To the glory of God, the Conference series is gradually chipping at this anomalous situation. Now emerging is a new culture of transparency, trust, and collaboration among different key local players spanning the academia, professional bodies, government agencies, and industry – with all considered as equal invaluable partners.  Seats are also reserved at the table for respectable members of civil society to come witness and participate at the proceedings.

 

This emerging scenario of course also allows the Conference to set her own agenda, based on identified priorities for the nation.  This has informed the various themes chosen for the Conference over the years, addressing such issues as One Health (inextricably linked with Gain of Function research), GMOs in foods, Industrial air pollution, Pesticides abuse in agriculture, Electrosmog pollution associated with the telecommunication sector, and use of Mercury as preservative in some Vaccines.

 

The first seven editions of the Conference held at the Redeermer’s University, Ede, where it was nursed to maturity.  Other editions have since held at the Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan; the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and the University of Ilesa, Ilesa. The 11^th edition is set to hold at the iconic Osun State University, Osogbo in less than three weeks time.  We are grateful for the management of these Institutions for graciously sharing our vision, and whole-heartedly partnering to host the Conference.

 

We are proud to note that patronage of the Conference has cut across the whole spectrum of stakeholders in the Environment-Health sector.  Our participants have included Federal Cabinet Ministers (highest level of government policy setting), and Recipients of the Nigeria National Order of Merit (NNOM) – the highest national award given for excellence in the academia.  At the same time Pupils from High Schools are brought in via a Workshop/Quiz competition which gives them early exposure to the use of the scientific method for addressing sustainable development issues, particularly in the Environment-Health sector.  Other key features of the Conference include the AF Oluwole Prize, awarded to distinguished professionals, in recognition of their contributions to E-H issues in Nigeria, and the newly instituted Arc Gbolahan Fowora Environmental-Health Advocacy challenge for undergraduates.

 

STOP PRESS: Submission of Abstracts for presentation at the 11^th NCEH has now been extended to Wednesday 14^th October!  To make a submission, visit https://lsfnigeria.org/abstract_submission_11th_nceh