Ondo Woman Emerges UNESCO Thematic Working Group On Geo Heritage For SDG

By Philip Tayo

An Ile-Oluji / Okeigbo woman in Ondo State, Dr Janet Adeyemi has emerged as the UNESCO thematic working group on Geo Heritage for the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG’s in Ondo State.

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Disclosing the development to newsmen recently, Dr Janet Adeyemi, who also double as the President of Women in Mining in Nigeria, expressed her joy in the appointment which would afford her the opportunity continue to serve.

President of Women in Mining Nigeria, Dr Janet Adeyemi has been appointed to serve as a member of the International Geophysics and Geoparks Group, which is an organ of UNESCO.

The appointment was contained in a letter sent to her by the team lead of the UNESCO project, Professor Silas Dada.

With a strong background in engineering, mining governance, and sustainable development, Dr Adeyemi expressed her passion for leveraging geoheritage as a tool for economic empowerment, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation.

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“As the President of Women in Mining Nigeria (WIM Nigeria), I have led initiatives that promote responsible mining, gender inclusivity, and community engagement,” she wrote.

“My experience working with international organizations, policymakers, and local communities has reinforced my belief that geoheritage can play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable development goals, particularly in regions rich in geological history and resources.

“I am particularly interested in integrating geoheritage conservation with economic opportunities for local communities, ensuring that heritage sites contribute to education, tourism, and sustainable livelihoods.

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By joining the working group, “she promised to contribute her expertise in policy advocacy, community-based resource management, and gender-responsive approaches to sustainable development.

“I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed experts and support UNESCO’s mission in preserving and promoting geoheritage for the benefit of present and future generations,” she said.

She described UNESCO as the only United Nations Agency with the mandate to develop the Earth Sciences and its work in the Earth sciences being an integral part to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to sustainable resources development and climate change as well as the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) is its flagship programme.

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Just before then,*he UNESCO IGGP supports research and capacity development in Earth Sciences. The programme comprises two sub-programmes:

Equality, the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) is a sub-programme mobilizers which supports a worldwide network of geoscientists to facilitate scientific cooperation to study the Earth and its geological processes.

Secondly, the UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGP): This mechanism of international cooperation promotes the conservation of sites of international geological value through scientific research, education, and engagement with local communities. It emphasizes sustainable management of geological heritage and local economic and cultural development.

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What Does UNESCO do in the Earth Sciences. Research: UNESCO supports cutting-edge research in geology and geophysics.

Capacity Building: UNESCO helps build capacity in the Earth sciences, focusing on training and knowledge-sharing.

Early Warning Systems: UNESCO promotes early warning systems for hydro-meteorological hazards, such as tsunamis.

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STDJ Sustainable Development: UNESCO’s Earth sciences work is aligned with the SDGs, addressing issues like resource management, climate resilience, and sustainable land use.

International Cooperation: UNESCO fosters international cooperation, networking, and knowledge-sharing among Earth scientists worldwide.

The IGCP (https://www.unesco.org/en/iggp/igcp) operates through seed funding grants only provided by UNESCO, the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), and extra-budgetary sources. These grants support research in geosciences on critical global issues within five thematic areas:

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Earth Resources: Knowledge on natural resources, including minerals, hydrocarbons, geothermal energy, and water, supports sustainable and equitable development. Responsible exploitation of these resources and advancements in technological development are critical challenges for geoscience research.

Global (Climate) Change and the Evolution of Life: Geological records such as ice, dust, sediments, and fossils reveal Earth’s climatic and biological history, offering lessons for managing present-day environmental challenges and mitigating damage.

Geohazards: Research focuses on risks from earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, tsunamis, floods, and meteorite impacts. The aim is to improve risk management policies and disaster mitigation.

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Hydrogeology: Understanding Earth’s water cycle is crucial for managing groundwater systems, addressing contamination issues, and ensuring sustainable water use for human activities.

Geodynamics: Deep Earth processes, such as plate tectonics and changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, influence surface environments and resource distribution. These processes are critical to resource management and hazard mitigation.

Nigeria National Committee:
The Nigeria National Committee of the UNESCO IGGP (IGGP-NNC) under the Chairmanship of Dr. Aminu Abdullahi Isyaku FGS, with statutory members from various relevant MDAs was inaugurated on 19th November 2024 in Abuja by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji to, amongst others.

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Promote geoscientific research aligned with the IGCP’s thematic priorities.

Develop Nigeria’s geoheritage resources for UNESCO Geopark designation.

Facilitate national and international collaborations and support, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.

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