BY: VITALIS UGOH Calabar
The Nigerian Conservation foundation (NCF) in collaboration with the department of Environmental Education, University of Calabar today joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2021 World Environment Day with the theme “Ecosystem Restoration”.
Mr. Emmanuel Owan of NCF in an interview highlighted the fact that the ecosystem has been degraded beyond self-recovery thereby destroying the basic essence of life and livelihood for millions of people around the world.
He therefore enjoined the general public to join hands with governments and civil society groups across the globe to change their lifestyle and attitude towards the environment in order to mitigate climate change, pollution and biological degradation especially in the area of illegal logging through tree planting, education and enlightenment.
The event followed a road walk from the department of environmental education through the Vice Chancellors office to the new library, hostels and other parts of the school and back to the main campus with students carrying placards to create the needed awareness about the event.
High point of the event was a tree planting exercise by the represented of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Michael Okom (Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration) in front of the Vice Chancellors office and an address by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Admin.
In his address, he enjoined participants to not just plant trees but to note that other parts of the ecosystem including the wetland and marine ecosystem are seriously under pressure by human activities, encouraging them to do the best they can to live in harmony with nature.
He therefore thanked the Department of Environmental Education for their effort to create such an enlightenment. Other speakers of the event included, Prof M.E. Inyang Abia, Prof. Omogun and Dr. Mrs. Agbor (the Head of Department of Environmental Education).
Other participants at the event included civil society groups, NESREA, some selected secondary schools, and other members of the public. Staff and students of Environmental Education .
