By Ikenna Nwokedi 

The UNIZIK Business School (UBS) on Wednesday, 8th May 2024 at the ASUU NAU Secretariat commenced her two-day 6th Hybrid International Conference with the theme: "Climate and Environmental Challenges: Advancing the Frontiers of Disruptive Innovations in Africa"

In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Frederick Odibo commended the UNIZIK Business School for creating a forum for a very important discussion on climate change through the International Conference. The Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor (SAVC) on Academic Matters described the theme as very apt in addressing issues on environmental degradation and protection of the ecosystem.

Declaring the conference open during his address, UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone described the theme of the conference as germane to the extant global focus on sustainable development compelled by the thoughtless manner in which humankind had exploited the Earth's resources. Prof. Esimone affirmed that the consequences of Climate change are manifesting in pollution on land, water and soil in the form of deforestation, desertification, global warming and ozone layer deflection which poses health hazards to humankind and other biospecies.

The VC affirmed that the principal instigator of global warming and climate change is carbon dioxide emission generated from factories in Europe, America and China through the burning of fossil fuels to drive their economic development. He averred that the hazardous impacts of carbon dioxide emission respect no international boundaries, threatening the industrialized and the yet industrialized world, mostly in Africa.

Delivering his keynote speech titled 'Addressing Climate Finance Disparities in Developing Countries', a member of the Institute Superior of Commerce and Administration, Kingdom of Morocco, Prof. Mohammed Amine Issami stressed that the recent of current initiatives and identification of challenges related to climate finance for developing nations reveal a nuanced landscape characterized by intricate hurdle and systemic disparities. The scholar affirmed that achieving goals of climate finance requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders including government, international organizations, civil society and the private sector.

In his address, the Director of UBS, Prof. Chinedu Onyeizugbe stated that this year's conference decided to delve into a rather vexed issue of climate and environmental challenges believing that the outcome as will be expressed in the communique at the end of the event will show how much efforts have been made at addressing the issues raised at the conference.

Prof. Onyeizugbe disclosed that the UBS is quintessentially taking its pride of place in the comity of Business Schools and the motif of collaborations is yielding results with MoUs signed with various International Business Schools across the globe. He also informed that the UBS is in the ivy League of leading business school in Africa and her visibility is now more than ever before contributing to the global ranking which is a component of 'Project 200' of the institution's Vice-Chancellor.

In his lecture describing the effects of climate changes, one of the lead paper presenters and Executive Director, Development Spec Academy Abuja, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu stated that climate change is transcontinental matter classifying the term into two major types with one being man-made while the other is Natural. The scholar highlighted man-made climate changes in the form of building of Dams, drilling of boreholes, cutting down of tress and other negative environmental practices. 

Also in her presentation titled, "Correlating Climate Change and Environmental challenges through disruptive innovative/technologies: Lessons from developing economics in Africa" the lead paper presenter and former Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Valerie Nnodu informed that climate changes and global warming are the most significant environmental challenges for almost two and half decades of the 21st century affecting the global.

The scholar suggested that disruptive innovation should be the new paradigm for sustaining our environment while also saying that as a matter of urgency various stakeholders involved should address issues of climate change to achieve green and liveable homeland not just now but for the generation yet unborn.

In a vote of thanks, the Deputy Director I of the UBS, Dr. Promise Oparah thanked all and sundry who made the ceremony a success, he commended the resource persons for their insights through the course of their lecture while promising that the UBS will remain dynamic and innovative in her activities in ensuring it remains one of the top Business schools in the comity of Business Schools across the globe.

Awards were presented to distinguished personalities such as UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone as Academic Leadership Doyen. The Distinguished Academic Service Award went to Prof. Frederick Odibo, Outstanding Green Environment Champion award was conferred on Dr. Christian Odinaka Igwe, Engr Mustafa Balarave Shehu was honoured with the award of Excellent Professional Service, His Royalty Engr. Otis Anyaeji was honoured with an award for Exemplary Professional service, Apostle Dr. Uche Miracle Okorie was honoured with the Eminent Community Development award, Dr. Felix Chinedu Odimegwu honoured with an Iconic Environmental Protection Award, Chief Dr. Obiakor Junior Obidimalor while the award of Eminent Multitasking Entrepreneur went to Chika Chigozie Nwaizu.