Transport systems facilitate people’s access to economic opportunities, social services, markets, places of recreation and other services and have a key role in the economy. There are also several negative effects of transport systems on quality of life. Understanding and maximizing the potential in the nexus of transport, socio-economic development and human well being has become important to planners and policy makers in developed countries. There is need to factor in such relationship in the planning of transportation systems in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

This lecture examines transport systems and human well-being nexus in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, in the context of socio-economic development and environmental change. The evolving nature of risks associated with the development of Nigeria’s transport systems in relation to the pattern of social and economic development since the commencement of large-scale exploitation of crude oil in the country will be analyzed. The environmental dimension in form of climate change and increased rate of urbanization as additional stressor on transport systems is also explored. The combined effects on different dimensions of human well-being in Nigeria and specifically in urban settings are described. It is expected that this lecture will provide new insights into contextual issues of socio-economic development, environmental change, transport systems and quality of life in Africa.

Speaker:  Dr. Ibidun Adelekan, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Chair: Dr. Catherine Holloway, UCL

This lecture will be followed by tea from 2.30pm-3.30pm which all attendees are welcome to attend