The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, has charged members of the public to control the activities responsible for the rise in the temperature, which has been depleting the ozone layer and causing a change in the climate. Professor Oyewole disclosed this at the 2017 World Earth Day Sensitisation Walk, held in the University and was organised by the Advocate for Clean Climate and Environment (ACCE). Themed, “Environmental and Climate Literacy”, the Earth Day is an annual event usually celebrated world-wide on April 22 while various events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970 and it is now being celebrated in over 193 countries.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Oluyemisi Eromosele, the Vice-Chancellor stated that in recent times, there had been changes in the climate, resulting in high temperature. According to him, “In Abeokuta, sometimes when its 6pm, the temperature is still like about 32 degrees (celsius) and there is an unusual cold temperature in the morning. When you measure the temperature difference, it is so wide and not good for our health”. He recalled a recent visit to Kaduna, saying that as early as 11am, the temperature was up to 40 degrees (celsius). He stressed that the temperature stayed on like that for hours, noting that the effects on human beings, animals and even plants were awful.
He highlighte
d the consequences of climate change to include threats to food production that could lead to drought, adding that the crop yield and harvest would be very low. “Climate change poses threat to human security and it could lead to increased migration. People become vulnerable, where people from poor countries are not being able to manage the effects of climate change. I dare say that no one is safe with climate change, whether you are from a poor or rich country. It is our collective responsibility to make sure all is well. Depletion of the ozone layer and increased global warming is as a result of climate change”, he stressed.
Supporting researches in the ivory towers to ameliorate the effects of climate change, the Vice-Chancellor stated that research should continue to go on to see how the earth could be kept safe. According to him, “It is our responsibility to keep our earth clean, it is our responsibility to continue to celebrate the World Earth Day, so that we bring everyone’s attention to this important event”. The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the organisers of the event for drawing the consciousness of members of the University community to the celebration. He stated that he hoped that the consciousness would go beyond the walking around campus, adding that they should exploit the usage of the social media, to arouse people’s consciousness about the earth we live in. He charged the participants to include primary and secondary school children in disseminating the information.
Corroborating the Vice-Chancellor, the Director, Zoological Gardens, Dr. Moses Oyatogun stressed the need to help save the earth, adding that last year recorded the highest temperature ever on earth, followed by 2015. He attributed the resultant outcome of high temperature recorded in some parts of the country, partly due to the outbreak of meningitis disease. He charged all to save the earth, saying that “When you save the earth, you are saving yourself”. He highlighted seven things one could do to save the earth which were: reduce, reuse and recycle your wastes; stop littering and start putting waste in a controlled environment as well as drive less and drive smart. The Director, who is also the Staff Adviser for ACCE, stated that the University was known for its greenness and the beautiful scenery, adding that everyone should maintain it. Present at the Sensitisation Walk were the President of ACCE, Mrs. Bolaji Thanni; Mr. Idris Ogunsola; Mr. Joshua Imonmion and Mr. Rasheed Lawal. Others were Mrs. Blessing Oyebade; Mr. Segun Adebayo and Mr. Lanre Ologunde, among others.