By Farida Salifu
The Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Thursday, October 23, celebrated its 40th anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to environmental governance, professional excellence, and climate action.
The celebration took place during the society’s National Conference and 35th Annual General Meeting at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Abuja.
Sarah Mukherjee, MBE, President and CEO of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISED), United Kingdom, praised NES for four decades of environmental advocacy, policy development, and capacity building.
She described the society as a model for environmental collaboration across Africa and beyond, highlighting its role in shaping national policies such as the Environmental Impact Assessment Act and the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria Act.
She also noted that NES’s research on waste management, pollution control, and energy efficiency is not just locally relevant but resonates on the global stage.
Drawing parallels with international experiences in Amman, Jordan, and Copenhagen, Denmark, Sarah underscored the importance of knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration in building resilient and sustainable communities.
Mohamed Malik Fall, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, commended NES for making environmental issues a central part of national discourse.
He emphasized that the environment underpins every aspect of life, from health to food security and peace, and warned that threats such as desert encroachment, rising floods, and deforestation demand urgent collective action.
Fall also highlighted the opportunities within these challenges, noting that Nigeria can leverage a green economy, create green jobs, and empower youth and women to lead a just and sustainable transition.
He called on government, academia, private sector, and civil society to unite as “guardians of this green nation” and reaffirmed the UN’s support through frameworks focused on climate adaptation, energy transition, and biodiversity conservation.
Dr. Efegbidiki Okobia, FNES, National President of NES, traced the society’s evolution from a small group of ten professionals to a nationwide network with 35 chapters and one in the United Kingdom.
He described the 40th anniversary as “a very beautiful day” marking decades of growth, partnerships, and advocacy, and announced a new collaboration with ISED to enhance capacity building, knowledge exchange, and professional standards in environmental practice.
Okobia also highlighted pressing national issues, particularly waste management, which he described as “a national disaster,” urging stronger legislation, improved recycling systems, and citizen responsibility.
He unveiled the Nigerian Environmental Outlook, a new initiative to track environmental indicators and ensure that climate commitments reach communities across Nigeria, signaling the society’s renewed focus on action-oriented solutions.
Mr. Hamid Adekunle, one of NES’s founding members, reflected on the society’s early days, recalling its initial goals of establishing state branches and eliminating “briefcase consultants.” He praised the current leadership for building on the founders’ vision and stressed the importance of focusing on locally-driven research and technological solutions that address Nigeria’s regional environmental challenges.
Adekunle also highlighted the society’s collaboration with multinational oil companies and early industry professionals, emphasizing how these partnerships helped embed environmental advocacy within corporate structures.
He urged the future leadership of the society to continue investing in innovation, research, and practical solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique environmental landscape.
The anniversary brought together environmental professionals, academics, policymakers, and development partners, showcasing NES’s evolution from a small advocacy group into Nigeria’s foremost professional environmental body, shaping policy, research, and climate dialogue nationally and internationally.