Kehinde Adeleye
LASEPA and Airqo have collaborated to host a five-day Clean Air Forum in Lagos from July 8th-12th, 2024, under the theme ”Advancing Collaborations and Multi-Regional Partnership for Clean Air actions in African Cities”.
The aim is to address air pollution issues in Africa and develop policies for better air quality and a healthier population. Dr. Tunde Ajayi, the General Manager of LASEPA, expressed the State Government’s readiness to tackle air pollution challenges through this event.
He mentioned that there will be more than 350 participants from over 40 countries attending the conference in Nigeria.
The event will bring together various stakeholders such as policymakers, representatives from civil society organizations, the private sector, development partners, and scientific communities involved in air quality initiatives in Africa.
The clean air forum is being coordinated by AirQo, a research initiative at Makerere University in Uganda, in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and organized by the Air Quality Monitoring Research Group (AQMRG) and EUEPiN from the University of Lagos, among other partners.
The forum, according to the LASEPA boss, will focus on fostering knowledge sharing and transdisciplinary collaborations while particularly emphasising the need to strengthen regional networks and multi-regional partnerships for sustained interventions for clean air in African cities.
“It is a collaboration aimed at bringing experts together to share ideas on how to improve the air quality in Africa for healthy citizens.
The Forum is a unique opportunity to Explore innovative solutions for air quality management in Africa; Develop new partnerships and collaborations; Enhance knowledge and skills development; and Expand professional network for increased capacity building”, the General Manager stated
He mentioned that a study from the Global Burden of Disease showed that air pollution in Africa causes approximately 1.1 million deaths each year, making it the second leading cause of death on the continent, largely due to rapid urbanization and industrialization.
Ajayi also emphasized the significance of effective environmental control for sustainable growth as a key aspect of good governance in Lagos State, highlighting its inclusion as the second pillar of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S plus development agenda.
He added that the State government will continue to work with experts worldwide to address climate change, pollution, and other environmental challenges that can harm the health of the population.
Professor Bainomugisha, the AirQo Project Lead, underscored the importance of the Clean-Air Forum, emphasizing the pressing need to address and advocate for clean air in urban environments across Africa.
“The Forum will provide pathways to air quality management for African cities and increase awareness of air quality and air pollution issues for better health outcomes in Africa”, Bainomugisha stated.
