A Professor of Environmental Geography at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Amidu Ayeni, has emphasised that geography remains a critical yet often misunderstood discipline for addressing Africa’s development challenges.

Delivering his inaugural lecture, titled: ‘Geography, development and identity: Where is the duplication?’ Ayeni noted that the field does not duplicate other disciplines, but instead, provides a framework that connects them.

According to him, environmental geography plays a central role in shaping decision-making across sectors, including finance, public health, urban planning, and climate policy.

The discipline offers practical tools for risk assessment in insurance, guides investment decisions through climate analysis in banking, and supports sustainable business operations through environmental compliance strategies.

Ayeni highlighted the strong link between environmental geography and public health, noting that the field helps explain patterns of disease spread, environmental causes of illness, and challenges related to access to water and sanitation.

He added that professionals trained in environmental geography are increasingly in demand across multiple sectors, serving as environmental consultants, planners, conservationists, climate analysts, and geospatial experts.

Focusing on Africa, Ayeni described the continent’s development model as inconsistent, with vast natural resources coexisting alongside widespread poverty.

He cited Nigeria’s Niger Delta as an example, where oil exploration has led to environmental degradation without corresponding economic benefits for local communities.

“Environmental geography enhances resilience, fosters sustainability, and supports informed decision-making in dynamic investment and management landscapes. The challenge is not just technological, but rooted in governance failures, historical marginalisation, and ecological neglect,”Ayeni stated.

He called for a shift from resource extraction to regeneration, urging policymakers to prioritise renewable energy, environmental justice, and community-based resource management. Ayeni warned that climate change remains the most pressing threat to sustainable development, particularly in vulnerable regions like sub-Saharan Africa.

He pointed out that rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and extreme weather events are already affecting agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods, while also triggering migration and conflict.

Ayeni advocated for climate justice and fairer global policies that give developing countries a stronger voice in climate negotiations.

He further emphasised that sustainability is an ethical issue, urging a shift from human-centred development to a more nature-inclusive worldview.

The university teacher pointed to African philosophical concepts, such as interconnectedness and collective responsibility, as valuable foundations for environmental ethics.

Rejecting claims that geography duplicates other disciplines, Ayeni argued that the course uniquely examines the spatial relationships and interactions between human and environmental systems, offering insights that no single discipline can provide.

“Geography does not merely borrow from other fields, it integrates them, revealing the deeper connections that shape our world,” he said.

Ayeni called for greater investment in environmental education, research, and policy integration, stressing that solving Africa’s complex challenges requires interdisciplinary thinking and localised solutions.