As the ACE Impact Project approached its final phase, the Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), University of Benin, welcomed a special visitor—an environmental and social safeguards consultant appointed at the request of the World Bank through the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The consultant’s mission was clear: to conduct a thorough Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) audit at CERHI.
This visit was part of a broader effort to assess how well the Centre adhered to national environmental laws and the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework during project implementation.
Upon arrival, the consultant was received by the VC University of Benin, Professor Bright Edoba Omoregie SAN, the CERHI’s Centre Leader, Professor Nathaniel Inegbedion, and the project team, who guided them through the Centre’s various facilities and the newly constructed building under the ACE Impact initiative. Site inspections were carried out, documents were reviewed, and discussions were held with key personnel to evaluate compliance with the approved ESMP.
The audit was aimed to identify whether the environmental and social safeguards had been properly implemented, if mitigation measures were effectively applied, and whether the project had minimized any negative impacts on people or the environment.
The visit marked a critical step in ensuring that CERHI not only fulfilled its academic mission but also upheld its responsibility to sustainable and ethical development. The outcome of the audit would feed into the final evaluation of the ACE Impact Project, contributing to lessons learned and best practices for future development initiatives.
