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Prof. Clement Kolawole, the esteemed Vice-Chancellor of Trinity University in Lagos, made a compelling case that the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals hinges on the strategic development of human capital.
He pointed out that without a robust and forward-thinking investment in education as a means of empowerment, the ambitious targets set by the UN will remain beyond reach, leaving many communities underserved and stagnant.
Prof. Clement Kolawole’s remarks were delivered during the 2024 ITF/TU Conference and Workshop, where the central theme, “Exploring the Prospects of Attaining the SDGs in Africa: Imperatives for Human Capital Development,” set the stage for a deep dive into how Africa can leverage human capital to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In his address, Kolawole highlighted the direct link between human empowerment and the successful attainment of these ambitious targets.
The event took place on Tuesday at Drapers Hall, located within the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan in Oyo State. This esteemed venue provided a fitting backdrop for the gathering, which saw a convergence of thought leaders and experts engaging in high-level discussions.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Kolawole highlighted education as the cornerstone of human capacity development, drawing attention to UNESCO’s global endorsement of this principle. His speech reflected the widespread consensus that effective education systems are essential to fostering sustainable progress and unlocking human potential.
“Human beings need to acquire knowledge, skills, competencies, values, and attitudes that drive sustainable development through the instrumentality of education,” he said. “Without these attributes being imbibed through a well-structured educational framework, the global aspiration to achieve the 17 SDGs will remain a mirage.”
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He further highlighted that many African countries fell short of meeting the SDGs in 2015 due to their failure to deploy education as a critical driver of development.
This realisation, he noted, spurred the evolution of the Education for Sustainable Development framework, designed to bridge gaps identified in 2015 and position the world for the successful attainment of the goals by 2030.
“The inability of most African countries to achieve the SDGs in 2015 was largely due to the non-deployment of education as a driving force,” Kolawole remarked. “This conference seeks to galvanise stakeholders to address critical factors required to prepare human capital for the challenges of promoting sustainable development.”
The conference also featured insightful contributions from other distinguished speakers, including the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Afiz Ogun; Prof. Saka Jimoh of the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan; the Vice-Chancellor of Dominion University, Prof. Abel Olorunnisola; the Vice-Chancellor of Crescent University, Prof. Oyedunni Arulogun; and the Registrar of Trinity University, David Oyejide.
