Nneka Nwogwugwu
Ibadan Business School (IBS), recently, signed a joint venture partnership agreement for innovative climate solutions with GREENPLINTH AFRICA in Nigeria; under a strategic green partnership enterprise.
The agreement is set to become the first training and development institute to embrace Green Strategies, Innovations and Technologies in Africa – Championing Sustainable Climate Mitigation and Adaptation for a Greener Continent.
In a statement from Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, President and CEO of Ibadan Business School, the IBS Green Enterprise includes the running of Human Capacity Development Programmes in all areas of Innovative Climate Solutions in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
The Human Capital Development component involves the assessments and identification of training needs of participants, and bridging the gaps in skills and knowledge of prospective participants.
The Climate Solutions Enterprise has, as its targets, Multilateral Agencies, Bilateral Agencies, Federal MDAs, State MDAs and the Organized Private Sector Organisations, in an attempt to reducing their Carbon Footprint, Ecological Footprint and Technological Footprint.
According to Asiwaju Fasuyi, The Ibadan Business School Green Enterprise is geared towards supporting Africa’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy – building a sustainable green economy in the Continent.
Speaking further, he stated, “Over the years, the Ibadan Business School has trained and developed more than 200,000 participants across both public and private sectors. These individuals have become renowned leaders, corporate CEOs, successful entrepreneurs and change agents in their different endeavours. We definitely have the capacity to deliver the IBS Green Enterprise, as we have also commenced the greening of all our operations in Nigeria.”
Fasuyi further disclosed that Nigeria is fully committed to the Global Green Transition Agenda, and that Ibadan Business School, being the First Training and Development Institute to wholly go green in Africa, is a pride to the Continent.
“We have set up machineries in partnership with GREENPLITH AFRICA, to birth the very First GREEN UNIVERSITY IN AFRICA before the end of 2023.” The Green University will be established in Nigeria. “We are midwifing a new IBS as the first institution of choice in Human Capacity Development and Consultancy Services in Nigeria and the Africa Region, in all Businesses relating to Innovative Climate Solutions and Environmental Management – Beyond Training.”
IBS Green Enterprise Faculty includes Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, Dr. Victor Fodeke, Dr. Olawale Akinwumi, Engr. Yahaya Ahmed, Dr. Eyitope Ajayi, Jojolola Fasuyi, Peter Papka, Prof. Ochanya Ruth Adio-Moses and a host of other reputable Climate and Environmental experts.
The Take-off Module Topics amongst others include:Introduction to Climate Change; National Climate Change Act: Compliance and Legal Frameworks; Communicating and Reporting Climate Change; Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation; Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Accounting, Carbon Footprint and Ecological and Technological Footprint.
AfDB strategises steps to draw artisanal, small-scale miners into boosting economy
Expanding financial access for Liberia’s artisanal and small-scale mining sub-sector is feasible through formalization and de-risking measures, according to a recent study published by the African Development Bank and the Liberian government.
According to the report, potential solutions to support the livelihoods of small-scale miners include setting up enabling regulatory and institutional frameworks and providing efficient extension services. The study draws on broad-based stakeholder consultations and a robust review and analysis of Liberia’s financial ecosystems and the artisanal and small-scale mining value chain.
It offers a compelling case for greater financial inclusivity as a key enabler for small-scale miners in Liberia and includes a roadmap to formalize the sub-sector. The report posits ample opportunities for financial institutions to engage with the artisanal mining sub-sector, including offering tailored solutions.
The report includes supply-side and demand-side interventions to drive financial inclusion. These interventions align with three pillars: access to financial services, promoting digital financial services and improving consumer protection and financial capabilities.
Benedict Kanu, the Bank’s Country Manager for Liberia, welcomed the report. “Artisanal and small-scale mining is a vital livelihood source for a sizable and needy population of rural and peri-urban Liberians, as well as millions in Sub-Saharan Africa who often travel around their countries in small groups to identify sites where they believe precious minerals or metals can be found.”
Kanu said the benefits of artisanal and small-scale mining are often outweighed by its costs. He added that the relative absence of adequate legislation and government controls in most countries make the environmental and food chain impacts of poorly regulated small-scale mining arguably worse than those of large-scale mines(link is external).
Fred Kabanda, Manager, Extractives Division at the African Natural Resources Management and Investment Centre (ANRC) of the African Development Bank, said: “Financial inclusion and its related metrics could act as a key enabling element for artisanal and small-scale mining actors to address the challenge of operating capital. It would provide incentives for formalizing their activities within the mainstream economy”.
The report calls on the government to work with development and commercial banks and micro-finance institutions to formulate innovative, context-specific solutions for promoting poverty reduction and development in the country.
The goal of widening financial inclusion for artisanal miners aligns with Liberia’s 2020-2024 National Financial Inclusion Strategy and the 2018-2023 Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.
The African Development Bank has been supporting the sub-sector through a pilot project, Enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of ASM through climate-smart actions. The pilot aims to help formalize small-scale mining through policy environment and building capacity of regulators and the miners.