UNIOSUN HOLDS 5TH COLLEGE LECTURE, HIGHLIGHTS UNIVERSITIES’ PIVOTAL ROLE IN ESG FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Osun State University (UNIOSUN) on Thursday hosted its 5th College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) Lecture, where experts underscored the critical responsibility of Nigerian universities in driving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles toward national sustainable development.

The well-attended event, held at the university’s main campus, featured Dr.

 Adesoji Tayo, Chairman of the GMHI Initiative, Ibadan, as the guest lecturer.

 Delivering his address on the theme “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Towards Sustainability: The Role of the University,” Dr. Tayo called on higher institutions to lead by example in adopting ESG frameworks for institutional transformation and societal impact.

“Universities must embrace ESG as a strategic tool for sustainable development,” Dr. Tayo emphasised. He outlined the three core pillars  environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance with institutional integrity  as essential for achieving long-term sustainability goals in academia. The lecturer stressed the need for deliberate planning, measurable indicators, stakeholder engagement, and continuous evaluation in ESG implementation.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, who declared the lecture open, described the event as a timely platform for aligning academic excellence with global sustainability agendas. He noted that UNIOSUN’s commitment to ESG reflects its broader vision of producing graduates equipped to tackle contemporary environmental and developmental challenges.

Participants explored practical ways universities can integrate ESG into teaching, research, campus operations, and community engagement. Dr. Tayo proposed the “Òṣogbo Declaration on ESG and Sustainable Universities” to galvanise Nigerian tertiary institutions toward collective action.

The lecture drew faculty members, students, industry stakeholders, and policymakers, sparking robust discussions on green campus initiatives, responsible governance, and social equity in higher education. Many attendees described it as an eye-opener on how universities can move beyond theoretical knowledge to become catalysts for Nigeria’s sustainability transition.

As Nigeria grapples with climate change, resource management, and inclusive growth, events like UNIOSUN’s CSET Lecture reinforce the strategic importance of academia in shaping a resilient future. The university plans to follow up with actionable ESG policy frameworks across its colleges.