LAGOS — Education experts have called on Nigerian universities to play a stronger role in environmental, social and governance innovation, arguing that higher institutions can contribute significantly to sustainable development. The call reflects growing attention to the relationship between education, research and the environmental and social challenges facing businesses and communities. Universities traditionally serve as centres for teaching and research, but their role in addressing sustainability issues is expanding. Students and researchers can develop solutions related to energy, waste management, agriculture, transportation and other areas that affect environmental performance. The private sector is also increasingly interested in environmental, social and governance principles as investors, consumers and regulators pay greater attention to sustainability. Universities can help businesses develop the knowledge and skills required to respond to those expectations. Research partnerships between universities and companies can provide practical opportunities for students. Instead of studying sustainability only as a theoretical subject, students can work on projects involving real organisations and community challenges. Such experience can improve employability while giving companies access to new ideas. Nigeria faces several environmental challenges that require local research. Waste management, flooding, erosion, energy access and climate-related pressures affect communities across the country. Universities can contribute by conducting research that takes local conditions into account. International solutions may not always be directly applicable to Nigerian communities. Local research can therefore help identify approaches that are affordable and practical. Sustainability also has a social dimension. Education institutions need to consider issues such as inclusion, accessibility, community development and ethical governance. Students who understand these principles can carry them into future careers in business, government and civil society. University governance itself can benefit from stronger ESG thinking. Institutions manage large campuses, employ significant numbers of people and interact with surrounding communities. Energy efficiency, responsible procurement and waste reduction can lower costs while improving environmental performance. Student participation can also strengthen sustainability programmes. Campus projects can provide practical learning while improving university facilities. However, sustainability initiatives require funding and institutional commitment. Universities may need to invest in laboratories, data systems and staff training. Government agencies and private organisations can support research through grants and partnerships. The development of relevant academic programmes is another important step. Universities can integrate sustainability concepts into existing disciplines rather than treating them only as specialised subjects. Engineering students, for example, can study energy efficiency, while business students can examine responsible corporate practices. Law students can explore environmental regulation and public policy. This interdisciplinary approach reflects the fact that sustainability problems rarely belong to one field alone. Nigeria's young population also creates an opportunity. Students entering the workforce will influence how businesses and public institutions operate in the coming decades. Giving them strong knowledge of sustainability can help shape future decision-making. Universities can therefore become laboratories for ideas that later spread into society. The call for stronger university involvement in ESG innovation is part of a wider conversation about the purpose of higher education. Institutions are expected not only to award qualifications but also to generate solutions to national problems. If universities strengthen research partnerships, practical training and campus sustainability, they can contribute meaningfully to Nigeria's development. The challenge will be converting broad commitments into measurable projects and useful research. With sustained support, higher education can become an important driver of environmental and social innovation.