Today, Monday, October 7, 2019 is World Habitat Day. Celebrated annually on the first Monday of October, the day is set aside to reflect on the state of towns and cities, the basic right of all to adequate shelter, and the responsibility to shape the future of cities and towns.
Among others, the commemoration advocates the diligent planning of towns and cities to avoid the chaotic development of urban sprawls and the problems associated with it.
Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest growing towns and cities. The population of these habitats are expanding daily as people troop in for better opportunities. But the continent’s towns and cities are not just known for their population boom; they are known more for the expanding social and economic opportunities. They are the conveyor belts for foreign capital and investment as multinationals look to take advantage of the continent’s emerging markets. Today, African towns and cities are home to thriving businesses, startups, social enterprises, and educational opportunities.
This notwithstanding, Africa’s towns and cities are also beset with a myriad of challenges; affordable housing and shelter remains a critical problem as large numbers resort to makeshift structures for shelter. Unplanned settlements or slums are on the rise as more and more people migrate to urban centers, putting pressure on existing social amenities. Sanitation, crime and insecurity remain a stark challenge.
This year’s World Habitat Day is raising awareness about using innovative frontier technologies to ensure sustainable waste management and therefore achieve Sustainable Development Goal 11: inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities. In so doing, town and city authorities in Africa need to harness frontier technologies to achieve sustainable waste management in their various localities while mitigating their possible adverse economic, social and political consequences.
