The second edition of the College of Environmental Sciences International Conference, tagged CESIC – 2025, was held between Tuesday, 8th and Wednesday, 9th July, 2025. The theme of this year’s Conference was ‘The Future of Infrastructure, Planning Growth and Building for Growth’. The Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address were held at the BUPF International Conference Centre, Bells University of Technology, Ota.
In separate welcoming addresses by the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Joseph Oyewale Oyedeji, ANIS, RSV, and by the Dean of the College, Dr. Atinuke Orekan, participants were well appreciated and commended for lending their time and energy to the conference which is aimed at further widening the scope of knowledge and academics in the built environment.
The Vice-Chancellor and Chief Host, Professor Jeremiah O. Ojediran, R.E. (COREN), FNSE, FNIAE, IION, was ably represented by the Dean, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Professor Violette Nkechi Atasie. He declared open the conference by imploring participants to delve deep into their knowledge repertoire in proffering workable solutions to real-life issues in their field – the built environment.
The Keynote Speaker was Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola-Eleka, PhD, FNIOB, R.Bldr., Professor of Building Structures, Department of Building, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, and former Governor of Ekiti State. His expertise, experience, and insight, variously in academics, professional practice, and politics, provided valuable information and knowledge to the packed audience and sparked interesting discussions among the audience and conference participants.
Two other Lead papers were presented via teleconferencing by Dr. ObuksEjohwomu, Reader, University of Manchester, and Professor Bankole OsitaAwuzie, Professor of Management and Quantity Surveying at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
In a detailed presentation that took deep cognizance of the Conference theme, Prof. Olusola-Eleka dissected the focus of the conference vis-à-vis: What is Infrastructure? Case Study – Singapore’s Transformation; Nigeria’s Current Infrastructure Reality, Historical Evolution of Infrastructure in Nigeria, Recent Infrastructure Initiatives, Persistent Challenges, The Future – Key Trends and Needs, Rethinking Planning and Design, Innovative Construction and Buildability, Funding and Partnerships, Human Capital and Institutional Strengthening and Actionable Principles for Growth. He ended by concluding with a call to action for all concerned, saying change starts with each citizen.
Registered participants thereafter devolved into practical sessions for the serious academic discourses of the conference proper.