By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Prof. Jimmy Adegoke, a Nigerian-American Climate Scientist, has called on the Federal University Lokoja to establish an inter-disciplinary institute to address environmental challenges and harness aquatic and mineral resources of North-Central Nigeria.
Adegoke, an Emeritus Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, United States of America, made the call at the 10th Distinguished Public Lecture of the institution at the Felele Campus of the University.
The 10th Distinguished Public Lecture of the University was themed: “A Tale Of Two Cities: Climate Threats and economic opportunities at the confluence of the Great Rivers Niger and Benue.”
Prof. Adegoke said that such an interdisciplinary institute encompassing various disciplines such as economics, environmental science, trade, and engineering would harness the resources of the region for the greater benefit of the people.
“The institute, he explained, would serve as an umbrella organization for existing centers, fostering research and development in the areas of economic vitalisation, environmental sustainability and trade.
Adegoke, a globally recognized environmentalist, said that the goal of the institute would be to transform the middle-belt region into an engine of economic growth and prosperity for its people and the nation.
The Professor regretted that the great Rivers Niger and Benue which traversed the Middle Belt states were underutilized adding that states should develop strategies to take advantage of the perennial flooding of the region to boost Agricultural production.
He called for the dredging of the two mega rivers to facilitate all-year-round navigation and haulage of heavy duty goods and transaction of businesses as well as tourism on the Nigerian Inland Waterways.
The colonial masters, he pointed out, understood the imperative of water transportation and exploited it using Lokoja as a place to aggregate raw materials for onward movement to their home countries through the Royal Niger Company.
“They can be developed into products and services that can bolster the financial viability of individuals, groups, communities, and the region, thereby creating economic prosperity.
“But you have to link those resources with the capacity to evacuate them cheaply, cheaply and safely and the only way you do that is by transforming Niger into a working river. We need to make River Niger a working river”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice Chancellor of FUL described the 10th edition of the Distinguished Public Lecture series of the University as a milestone in the institution’s commitment to advance knowledge and foster intellectual discourse on critical issues that affect the society.
The Professor of History described the theme of the public lecture as both timely and significant especially, as it touches on issues central to the region and the world at large.
He said that the location of the University in the Confluence town of Lokoja offered both opportunities and challenges environmentally, socially and economically.
“The Confluence has historical, cultural and economic significance, but it also exposes us to climate-related risks such as flooding and environmental degradation. At the same time, it presents us with immense economic opportunities if we harness the region’s resources wisely”, he added.