The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Somanya, Eastern Region has successfully hosted the 5th International Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) on September 4-5, 2025, at the Auditorium, Multipurpose Building. The conference on the theme: “Environmental Management and Food Security: Threats and Opportunities for Developing Economies, brought together experts in academia, energy, food and sustainability sectors.
Opening the conference virtually, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, emphasised the critical connection between environmental sustainability and food security. He highlighted climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable land management as major threats, citing alarming statistics on food insecurity in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ghana. The Vice-Chancellor advocated sustainable agricultural practices, policy reforms, and local production to strengthen resilience and reduce dependency.
He showcased UESD’s involvement in the NKABOM Collaborative Project on Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-food Systems, and announced new degree, diploma, and short courses to build capacity for youth, women, and agribusiness stakeholders. The conference featured a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Nuworza Kugbey, Head of Department of Environment and Public Health, which explored environmental management practices, food production, and strategies for addressing food security concerns.
Participants also engaged in an interactive poster presentation session, where research findings were displayed and discussed. Technical sessions were held to discuss various topics relevant to the conference theme. The conference provided a platform for knowledge sharing, policy influence, and enhancing UESD’s visibility, encouraging participants to engage in meaningful dialogue to shape sustainable development and address pressing global concerns. Participants engaged in discussions that aimed to inform policy decisions.
At the end of deliberations for day one, the nominal chairman, Dr. Shine Francis Gbedemah, who is also the acting Dean of the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences(SNES) expressed gratitude to participants for their active participation.