All is now set for the 3rd International Conference organised by the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management (IGEM) of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Port Harcourt in collaboration with UNITAR-CIFAL, Nigeria, with the theme, “Green and Safe Transport: Integrated Fleet Disaster Risk and Sustainable Management.”
The four-day conference, scheduled to hold from April 7 to April 10, 2026, will take place at the Senate Building,of the university in Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, bringing together key stakeholders across the transport, maritime, logistics, and environmental sectors.
Participants are expected to arrive on April 7 for the opening ceremony which takes place the next day. The Technical Sessions and Paper Presentations will take place on April 9, while departure is on April 10, 2026.
Participants are expected from a wide spectrum of industries, including operators in air, land, and sea transport systems, as well as scholars, researchers, and professionals from oil and gas, logistics, and maritime sectors. Government agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Inland Water Ways,relevant ministries are also billed to attend.
The Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, will serve as Chief Host, while the Director of IGEM and UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria Focal Person, Professor A. E. Gobo, is the host.
A former Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Blessing Didia, will chair the occasion.
The keynote address will be delivered by Sunday Akuru, Management Services(Fleet) and the United Nations World Food Programme, Abuja. Lead paper presentations will be anchored by Estrella Merlos, Deputy Director,CIFAL Global Network and Global Head of Transport and Mobility at UNITAR-CIFAL, who also serves as co-host of the conference.
Other notable speakers include Hon. Dr. Faith Izibenua Zibs-Godwin, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, and Dr. Rita Owase, a logistics and fleet management specialist with extensive experience supporting United Nations operations.
The conference will be declared open by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, with Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri also expected in attendance.
Speaking ahead of the event, Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee, Professor K. E. Okpara, expressed confidence in the preparedness of the organisers, assuring participants of a hitch-free and impactful gathering. He commended the management of the university and the UNITAR-CIFAL representative, Mrs. Ihuoma Njemanze, who also serves as Co-Chairman, for their strong support.
Goodwill messages are expected from major stakeholders in maritime and transportation services, further underscoring the conference’s relevance to sustainable development and safety in mobility systems.
The conference builds on an existing partnership between IGEM and UNITAR-CIFAL, which was strengthened following the hoisting of the UNITAR-CIFAL flag at the university. The collaboration previously facilitated international training exchanges, including a fleet safety workshop held in Abuja last year that attracted participants from six countries.
With the 2026 conference poised to commence, organisers say the event marks a significant step in consolidating gains from past engagements and advancing global discourse on sustainable and disaster-resilient transport systems.