By Esther Sangodele
A lecturer in the Department of Sustainability Studies, Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Ibadan, Dr. Olawale Emmanuel Olayide, has identified greed and corruption as the greatest obstacles to sustainable development, urging governments, institutions and individuals to embrace multidisciplinary approaches to secure a better future.
Olayide stated this while delivering the maiden Faculty Lecture of the Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies at the university.
The lecture, titled “Gbogbonise: A Reflection on Multidisciplinarity and Sustainability in Practice,” explored the intersection of multidisciplinary knowledge and sustainable development.
Explaining the concept of Gbogbonise, a Yoruba expression, Olayide said it denotes versatility and the ability to draw knowledge from multiple disciplines to solve complex societal problems.
According to him, sustainable development involves meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
He said sustainability requires preserving nature, ecosystems, life-support systems, communities and the environment, while promoting the development of people, the economy and society.
The scholar noted that although technological advancement and innovation have enabled humanity to conquer many developmental challenges, greed and corruption continue to undermine efforts to achieve lasting progress.
“We have conquered the earth through technology, but we have not conquered greed and corruption,” he said, describing the two vices as the real enemies of sustainable development.
Olayide also stressed the relevance of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets, stressing that they should not be viewed merely as academic concepts but as practical guides for everyday living.
He recalled that students of the University of Ibadan composed an anthem in 2016, using the tune of the nursery rhyme ‘We are H-A-P-P-Y’, to aid the memorisation of the SDGs, adding that the composition was further refined with Artificial Intelligence in 2026.
The lecturer identified the three pillars of sustainable development as social, economic and environmental sustainability, which correspond with the three bottom lines of people, planet and prosperity.
Drawing from the Bible, he said the foundation of sustainable development could be traced to the creation story in Genesis, where humanity was entrusted with the responsibility of managing and preserving God’s creation.
According to him, multidisciplinary learning is not merely an academic discipline but a lifelong endeavour, while the SDGs should be seen as instruments for achieving sustainability rather than an end in themselves.
“The journey to sustainability does not end in 2030. Almost all development challenges are related and embodied in sustainable development, but not all developments are sustainable. The future belongs to those who can integrate knowledge across disciplines,” he said.
Olayide called for stronger collaboration between universities and communities through enhanced town-and-gown partnerships, as well as the publication of an annual University of Ibadan Sustainability Report to monitor institutional progress and impacts.
He added a Yoruba proverb which means that tomorrow may not be like today, urging stakeholders to take deliberate actions that would preserve resources and opportunities for future generations.
The lecturer attributed his academic accomplishments to divine grace, declaring: “God is my glory and the lifter up of my head. I am a product of God’s grace. God is the ultimate Gbogbonise.”
