Prof Akpezi Ogbuigwe

Value based education is key to sustainable development, says Prof Akpezi Ogbuigwe, the head ofEnvironmental Education and Training, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation at UNEP. Prof Akpezi said this at a public lecture she delivered at the University on Thursday, 4th September.

The title of the lecture was: Action for a sustainable future – the role of African Universities. Prof Akpezi held her audience to the edge of their seats with her fervent delivery.

Prof Akpezi challenged universities in Africa to offer value-based education.  "Education is meaningless without responsibility but value based education is key to sustainable development.

She said we choose the world we live in since we create it. "This is the possibility generation. We need to challenge ourselves to create a better world," she said.

Prof Akpezi had some sobering data. "At the moment, estimates show that our planet is losing an area of fertile land about the size of Ireland every year as a result of overgrazing and deforestation. And deforestation rate in Africa is higher than in any continent reducing the estimated forested area," she said.

"Although Africa produces only 4% of the world's total carbon dioxide emissions, its inhabitants are poised to suffer disproportionately from the consequences of global climate change because its capacity to adapt to climate change is relatively low, with projected costs estimated to reach at least 5-10 per cent of its GDP," Prof Akpezi observed.

But she added that sustainability is possible. In 2002, as a follow up to World Summit on Sustainable Development, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 57/254 designating the period 2005-2015 as the United Nations - Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UN-DESD).

The overall goal of DESD is to integrate the principles, values, and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning. She pointed out that Strathmore University was on the right track as it offers an all round education and strives to instill responsibility.

"Sustaining the environment starts with each one of us. We need to do the little things in life that contribute to the big picture. Closing water taps instead of leaving water to run when brushing our teeth for example can save a lot of water," she said.

Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability is essentially about maintaining the earth's ecological and other biophysical life-support systems.

If these systems decline, human population, well being and health will be jeopardized. Technology can buy time, but nature's bottom line accounting cannot be evaded. This means we must live within Earth's limits.

Download presentation [pdf 536kb]