A leading integrated and interdisciplinary institute for research and training in environment and sustainable development in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.

The goal of the IIED is to balance natural resource conservation and economic development.

The mission of the IIED is to produce and disseminate the knowledge and tools for balancing natural resources conservation and economic development through applied scientific and policy research, training the next generation of managers and researchers as well as building capacity among stakeholders in government, business and local communities.

The philosophy of the IIED is that since human development is usually accompanied by negative concomitants of environmental degradation, damage or destruction, the solution to these consequences of human actions could only come from human redirected initiatives and efforts aimed at checkmating these challenges. Hence there is need to synergize and develop the quality of skilled manpower to bring integrated and practical solutions to these multifaceted, and in some cases, emerging challenges of development. 

Ecosystems are important components of the global life-support systems for the human society. They are also among the biodiversity hotspots. However, human development activities usually result in environmental degradation, damage and destruction or resource depletion, overexploitation, species extinctions and biodiversity loss. Superimposed upon these, is the overarching impact of climate change on the environment and resource systems. Damaged ecosystems (such as degraded landscapes, degraded rivers and streams courses, depleted fish stocks) will require restoration to enable them render their ecological services and become resilient against climate change impacts. However, it is much cheaper to conserve ecosystems and the component species in order to maintain high biodiversity. An ecosystem with higher biodiversity is more stable and more likely to be resilient against climate impacts. These are very complex and complicated situations that require highly trained and skilled man power to analyze, model, simulate, and proffer practical solutions.

IIED aims to develop research and academic programs that will build the human capacity in the areas of highlighted below. The Institute will implement Postgraduate Diploma, certificate and Masters/PHD Programs on integrated environmental conservation and development in order to train high-level manpower in these disciplines. These academic programs will be multidisciplinary in approach, drawing on expertise from within and outside the University in areas such as Aquatic science, Botany, Zoology, Biotechnology, Engineering, Ecotoxicology, Genetics, Hydrogeology, Social Sciences, Arts, Law, Health Science,  Agriculture, Forestry, Geography, Geology, Physics and Chemistry

The aims of the Institute include:

1. To provide a platform for the establishment of specialized higher degree courses (PGD, MSc and PhD) and Short courses
2. To conduct research in the focus areas of environmental research and conservation
3. To carry out actual field projects on ecological restoration of degraded, damaged or destroyed sites, biodiversity conservation, wetlands management, climate change adaptation, renewable energy and integrated waste management
4. To render consultancy services to government agencies, private sector, NGOs, National and International organizations, in the focus areas of ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, wetlands management, and climate change adaptation and renewable energy development

• Integrity
• Self-reliance
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Sportsmanship
• Servant Leadership
• Accountability
• Dependability
• Reliability
• Partnership/Collaboration
• Loyalty
• Commitment
• Open-mindedness
• Consistency
• Honesty
• Efficiency
• Simple and High Quality

To achieve its vision and mission, it is envisioned that IIED will house the following but not limited, Centres/programme of Excellence when fully developed.

• • Centre of Biodiversity, Climate Change and Watersheds
  • Centre of Environmental Impacts Assessment and Management
  • Centre of Oil and Gas Business & Infrastructural Technology
  • Centre of Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing
  • Centre of Sustainable Community Development & Conflict Management
  • Centre of Environmental Education & Training
  • Centre of Integrated Waste Management and Renewable Energy Research
  • Center of Integrated Flood Research and Management
  • Center for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) & Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
  • Center of Hydrocarbon Pollution Research and Remediation Technology