The Centre for Climate Change (CCC) of Bells University of Technology, Ota, was formally inaugurated on 19th May 2022, with the Vice Chancellor, Professor J.O. Ojediran, affirming the University’s commitment to advancing climate action and sustainability research. The Centre was officially launched by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the University’s Promoter, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, on 6th December 2022, marking a significant milestone in Bells University’s pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Between 2022 and August 2023, the CCC undertook several strategic initiatives, including needs assessments, reconnaissance visits to teak plantations and the Owowo Dam, and collaborations with the Ogun State Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, and Physical Planning to explore the impacts of climate change on local livelihoods and ecosystems (SDG 13 & 15).
A landmark University-wide Climate Change Awareness Lecture was held on 31st May 2023, sensitizing staff and students on climate change challenges and the role of the CCC in providing innovative solutions. In July 2023, the management of the old Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Station at Bells University was formally transferred to the CCC, enhancing capacity for climate data generation and research. The Centre also initiated a sustainable honey production project in collaboration with Old Levi Company at the Obasanjo Teak Plantation, Alamala, linking environmental conservation with income generation. Through these engagements, the CCC has established a strong foundation for impactful research, policy partnerships, and community engagement in line with SDGs 13, 15, and 17.
Between August 2023 and August 2024, the CCC, strengthened its institutional and international collaborations in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The Centre initiated and successfully concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), formally signed on 20th January 2024 in Abuja by the Vice Chancellor and the CCC Director. This landmark partnership facilitated the construction of a new meteorological enclosure at the University and at the Obasanjo Farm, Abeokuta, completed in May 2024, and the supply of advanced meteorological instruments in July 2024.
The CCC also expanded research and grant-seeking collaborations through a new MoU with the Heritage Promotion Enterprise on 22nd January 2024, and international engagement meetings with the University of Manchester (UK) and North Carolina University (USA), aimed at enhancing climate research capacity and global visibility. In furtherance of SDG 4 (Quality Education), the Centre collaborated with the University’s SDG 13 Team to organize a major Climate Change Sensitization Programme for secondary schools across Ota and Agbara, scheduled for October 9th, 2024, to promote youth engagement in environmental stewardship. Throughout the period, CCC maintained active participation in NiMet’s 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction Conference and other professional development programmes on climate risks, public health, and food security, ensuring that Bells University remains a recognized contributor to climate resilience, sustainable education, and policy advancement in Nigeria.