1^st International Conference on Advancing Politics & Governance for Sustainable Development

Theme: Politics, Resource Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa.

Date: 21 – 23 October, 2025

Host & Venue: Centre for Politics, University of Port Harcourt (mode: in-person and virtual) Politics and governance of natural resources are two topical issues of enormous concern to scholars, policymakers and civil society. Africa’s share of natural resources is extensive. Many have wondered why these resources have not pushed the continent out of its present difficulties. Critics argue that resource endowments have not translated into development. Thus, this conference aims to provide scholars, policymakers and the civil society an appropriate platform to share ideas and research findings on the link between politics, resource governance and sustainable development in Africa.

The Centre for Politics invites papers from practitioners, scholars and researchers on the Conference sub-themes, below. This will hopefully, ignite conversations and offer insights on how to re-orient politics for the greater good, recalibrate statecraft and energize non-state actors to meaningfully participate and contribute to sustainable development In Africa, particularly in the Niger Delta.

Conference sub-themes

1. Political governance
2. Decolonising governance through local content
3. Energy governance: Improving policy resource endowment outcomes in the Energy sector
4. Ecological governance: Advancing research & local content for sustainable development
5. Human capital and indigenous entrepreneurship models for sustainable development
6. Legal governance: Legal framework, dispute resolution mechanisms
7. Security imperatives for resource management and development
8. Climate policy and sustainable development
9. Oil and development
10. Network governance: Institutions as enablers for local economic empowerment especially for ‘special population groups’ (i.e., People Living with Disabilities, Women and the Youth)
11. Country case studies on Resource Endowment and Sustainable Development
12. Gender and Development
13. Intergovernmental Relations and the extractive industry
14. Federalism and Development
15. Social movements and resource governance

Deadline for submission of 250-word abstracts – 30^th May, 2025

Acceptance of abstract notification – 30^th June, 2025

Submission of final & complete papers for peer review – 30th July, 2025

Enquiries & submissions to be sent via email to: centreforpolitics@uniport.edu.ng and fidelis.allen@uniport.edu.ng

1. Physical (in-person) = N25,000.00
2. Virtual attendees = N20,000.00
3. Post graduate students = N15,000.00
4. Uniport attendees’ group discounted rate = NGN 20,000.00

Bank details:
U&C UNIPORT MICROFINANCE BANK
1100282509
Account Number: 1100282509