Olufemi Adeyemi
Green innovation is becoming more common among researchers and practitioners around the world due to environmental and social issues. Green innovation minimizes wastes and pollution, and also leads to financial gains and better image if implemented effectively.Economies can only grow sustainably if they simultaneously manage the growing urgency of environmental degradation and climate change. Aside from the catastrophic impact on the lived environment — such as depletion of natural resources, frequent and intense drought and extreme weather events — failure to tackle these threats will heighten health and social inequalities, and push millions of people into extreme poverty. It will also undermine countries’ resilience to future shocks.
Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa. It’s also the most
populous country in Africa, and the sixth most populous in the world.
Population growth in Nigeria has been explosive: in 1950, the country’s
population stood at 32 million. Today, it’s about 232 million, and most
forecasts expect it to surpass 400 million by 2050. This level of population
growth, coupled with rapid economic growth, has big implications for
sustainability.
Environmental Health-Related Risks are a Concern
Nigeria has diverse environmental problems such as air
pollution, water pollution, oil spillages, deforestation, desertification,
erosion, and flooding. Last year, flooding affected 3.2 million people, with
over 600 lives lost, 100,000 people displaced, and over 300 hectares of
farmland destroyed. Nigeria attended COP27, highlighting these issues and the
need for more finance to tackle the climate emergency. Nigeria’s minister for
the environment told COP27 that Nigeria lacks the public finance required to fund
energy transitions and climate action.
Sustainability Can be Seen as a Nice-to-Have
Despite experiencing the effects of climate change, in
Nigeria it’s still the case that adopting a Net Zero strategy to curb carbon
emissions is seen as a ‘nice to have’ rather than a ‘must have’. As we’re
seeing in other countries, including the West, economic downturns or hardship
inevitably means that less priority is placed on environmental commitments by
both governments and businesses whose primary focus is economic growth, profit
generation, and cost savings.
Nigeria is rich in both crude oil and gas reserves – fossil
fuels often blamed for climate change. But the country is also blessed with
renewable energy sources such as solar, hydropower, wind, and biomass. The
challenge for Nigeria is to create a favourable business environment for
investors to develop these areas in the future.
Currently, however, Nigeria’s national grid is not
sufficient for the needs of the growing population and access to clean
affordable energy remains a challenge for much of the country (including
businesses and individuals). This means that diesel generators continue to play
a significant role in the country’s energy mix.
Sustainable Development is Gradually Gaining Traction
Government regulations and financial incentives play a
crucial role in aligning profitability with sustainable practices. However,
challenges persist, such as the lack of strict enforcement, especially for
foreign companies operating in Nigeria.
Oil companies are often criticised for their contributions
to environmental degradation, particularly through land and air pollution. Coca
Cola, as a major contributor to plastic waste, has also faced scrutiny.
However, Coca Cola has also supported the green sector by investing in
companies and startups focused on combating plastic pollution, showing the
potential for companies in Nigeria to evolve and prioritise sustainable
development.
As well as age, cultural beliefs also shape perspectives on
sustainability. For example, in some communities, people fear the misuse of
intimate waste products, leading to their burning rather than proper disposal.
They fear these items would be used for evil spiritual purposes. Addressing
cultural perceptions and providing education can help overcome such barriers to
sustainable waste management practices.
Additionally, Nigeria’s infrastructure can also limit the
extent to which people can embrace sustainability. For example, there is demand
for ride-sharing initiatives, but Nigeria’s road infrastructure poses
challenges in many communities.
Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan
In 2022, Nigeria’s government adopted its Energy Transition
Plan (ETP), which sets out how it intends to achieve Net Zero by 2060. Amongst
other objectives, the plan aims to lift 100 million people out of poverty by
driving economic growth, connecting people to modern energy services, and
managing potential job losses in Nigeria’s valuable oil sector because of
global decarbonisation.
The ETP focuses on embracing technologies that maximise
emission reduction, in sectors which currently generate significant carbon
emissions. For example, in the oil and gas sector, the plan intends to mitigate
climate change using technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS),
direct air capture, and hydrogen fuel.
Agriculture contributes significantly to global greenhouse
emissions, and Nigeria’s rudimentary agricultural practices can cause
environmental issues, as they have led to soil erosion, deteriorating
rangeland, dwindling forests, and falling water tables. About 80% of Nigeria’s
agricultural sector is made up of smallholders. For the Nigerian government,
increased commercialisation of agriculture is a long-standing priority,
including greater use of mechanisation. This brings with it both environmental
benefits and risks – for example, one drawback of using certain chemicals in
weed control is the damage they can potentially cause to other wildlife.
Reviving and embracing traditional practices such as
composting could play a pivotal role in resolving Nigeria’s waste predicament.
With its abundant organic waste resources, Nigeria can draw on the enduring
wisdom of composting practices in rural communities.
Examples of Sustainable Innovation
For example, with a strong commitment to help protect, renew
and restore the environment, Nestle Nigeria has implementing many initiatives
promoting Environmental Sustainability.
In 2022, Nestlé Nigeria launched her employee plastics
collection scheme which inspires staff to protect the environment and combat
plastic pollution by inculcating the habit of sorting wastes at source and
recycling for sustainable environmental management. Through the scheme,
employees return all plastic materials, not limited to the company’s brands,
and earn points culminating in exciting rewards and management recognitions.
Over the years, the company has partnered with the Lagos
Business School Sustainability Centre on the “Advancing Nutrition, Health and
Environmental Awareness through the Media” training which equips journalists to
effectively communicate and educate the Nigerian populace on global best
practices and lifestyle choices that impact everyday living and carry out
fact-based reporting on nutrition, health, wellness, the environment, climate
change, and corporate sustainability practices.
Nestlé has also extended her education campaign to the
younger generations through the Sustainability Training for Kids which enables
children imbibe a sustainability mindset from an early age, thereby preparing
them to become better stewards of the planet. The training implemented in
collaboration with the International Climate Change Development Initiative
(ICCDI), furnishes children with information on waste management, introduces
them to the conversion of waste to useful items, and encourages them to adopt
positive behavioral changes to enhance environmental sustainability. The
children are also taught sorting of waste at source with the donation of
segregated bins to participating schools.
Also, Jaebee Furniture, a circular enterprise, and
Yetroselane Fashion House are notable Nigerian companies that have successfully
integrated sustainability into their business models.
Jaebee Furniture implemented a furniture swap scheme,
promoting affordability and reducing waste.
Yetroselane Fashion House uses zero waste design, crafting
unique fashion pieces from offcuts that would have otherwise contributed to
landfill pollution.
These success stories demonstrate that sustainable practices
can be financially viable while addressing social and environmental concerns.
Another inspiring initiative involves converting plastics
into support beams for construction purposes. This innovative approach not only
addresses waste management but also offers a sustainable alternative to
traditional building materials. The company which does this is part of the
umbrella of the Recyclers Association of Nigeria, and they contribute to
solving the country’s infrastructure challenges through recycling.
The Recyclers Association of Nigeria, established in 2019, is an alliance comprising recyclers, manufacturers, government officials, and producers committed to environmental sustainability and recycling. Producers pay levies to fund waste collection efforts by private organisations, facilitated by the association. These funds support projects and subsidies, driving sustainability initiatives across Nigeria at grassroots level.