By Rasheeda Hamidu
An environmental consultant, Okezie Odugala, has urged local government councils to turn development policies into practical interventions that improve environmental sustainability and livelihoods at the grassroots.
Odugala, Managing Consultant of Kegala Environmental Consultancy Ltd., made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Asaba.
He said local governments were closest to communities and therefore had a critical role to play in translating development policies into interventions that respond to local needs.
According to him, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires stronger action at the local level, with councils moving beyond routine administration to deliver inclusive, environmentally responsible and economically sustainable development.
“Sustainable development cannot be achieved only through policies and programmes at the federal and state levels. The real impact must be felt at the grassroots,” he said.
Odugala stressed the need for collaboration among government institutions, universities, civil society organisations, development partners, private-sector stakeholders and communities to address complex development challenges.
He said his organisation was partnering with the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) Centre for Sustainable Development to build the capacity of local government officials on practical approaches to sustainable development.
He said the partnership would focus on sustainable development planning, environmental sustainability, climate action, social inclusion, resource management, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Odugala said the pilot training for local government executive and management officers across the South-South was scheduled for Oct. 29 and 30 in Asaba, urging council chairmen, executives, heads of departments and other management officers to participate.
He expressed optimism that the programme would strengthen institutional capacity and provide a model for similar training initiatives in other parts of the country.
NatureNews notes that strengthening local government capacity could help bridge the gap between Nigeria’s development policies and the practical environmental and social interventions experienced by communities.
