Welcome Address

WELCOME ADDRESS BY DR. (MRS.) IHUOMA P. ASIABAKA, AG. DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR WOMEN, GENDER & DEVELOPMENT STUDIES FUTO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2012 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATION IN FUTO, HOLDING FROM MONDAY 30^TH – TUESDAY, 31^ST JULY 2012

PROTOCOLS

I feel highly delighted and honoured to welcome you all to the 2012 World Environment Day Celebration in FUTO.

Never before had the environment been so threatened by human activities, hence the need for awareness creation in all nooks and crannies of the world especially in Nigeria on the need for the preservation and protection of the environment.

Man has inadvertently affected the environment negatively through his activities such as pollution, deforestation, bush burning, mining, exploration and exploitation of non-renewable resources, indiscriminate dumping of waste etc.

These anthropogenic activities has degraded the environment resulting in loss of biodiversity, aesthetic values and unsanitary conditions with their attendant health and environmental problems among which are flooding, erosion earthquakes, drought, volcanic eruption, climate change etc.

As in other parts of the Country, environmental sanitation in FUTO has been a great challenge to the University administration. however, the present administration is its quest for excellence has resolved to tackle the poor environmental sanitation in FUTO through awareness creation, beautification, proper waste management and total re-orientation of both staff and students of the University on the need for clean, safe and healthy environment; hence the theme for this year’s World Environment Day celebration in FUTO “Sustainable environment for healthy and socio-economic development of Nigeria”.

As part of this year’s World Environment Day Celebration, we have articulated the following activities:

-      Sanitary inspection of classrooms, student hostels, Laboratories, workshops, cafeteria, toilet facilities and surroundings of all the buildings in the University.

-      Grassing of the environment for beautification and erosion control.

-      Tree planting foe beautification/aesthetic values, economic values, erosion control, wind breakers and environmental purification.

-      General environmental sanitation through grass-cutting, clearing of blocked gutters, sweeping etc.

-      Lectures, demonstrations and exhibitions on environmental issues.

It is hoped that at the end of this occasion, participants will be better equipped and informed on the need for good environmental sanitation. I encourage everybody here to be actively involved in proper environmental management such as tree planting and regular cleaning of their surroundings.

Finally I thank the Vice-Chancellor for this love, support and encouragement in promoting environmental sanitation and beautification, and our partnering/supporting agencies (UNICEF, NESREA, EHORECON, EHOAN, Fed, Min. of Environment, Rotary Int., and PG Students, SOHT) for all your financial and material support.

In conclusion, the Vice-Chancellor and his Management Team may deem it wise to set out a day monthly for environmental sanitation on campus in line with the National Environmental Sanitation (NES) policy, and also award prizes to the staff and students of the best kept/managed School/Department/Unit.

Once more, I welcome you all to the 2012 World Environment Day Celebration in FUTO.

Thank you.