IAUE: Making the Environment Safer in Focus At 4th Humanities Conference

Making the Environment Safer will be the focus at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) 4th Humanities Conference

Oct 24, 2023 - 16:47

IAUE: Making the Environment Safer in Focus At 4th Humanities Conference

Scholars in the Faculty of Humanities have been commended for delving into the challenges confronting the environment by not leaving it to those in the environmental sciences alone, Myschoolnews gathered.

This is because the prevailing environmental challenges in Africa need to be tackled from the different standpoints of other disciplines.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, made the commendation while declaring open the 4th International Conference of the Faculty of Humanities at the institution, recently.

He noted that a multi-disciplinary approach is a new trend around the globe because of the diverse perspectives it brings to finding explanations for problems.

Professor Joseph Kinanee, the Director of Academic Planning, represented the Vice-Chancellor.

Prof. Onuchuku said the university’s deliberate policy of sponsoring conferences within and outside the state is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the lecturers to enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world.

The vice-chancellor, however, emphasised that attending conferences is not enough if the feedback from such academic brainstorming events is not used to make society better.

Earlier, the host and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Kingdom Orji, observed that participation in conferences has become an integral part of the institution’s academic culture.

He observed that such academic concourses provide a robust platform for the dissemination of relevant research findings, as well as an avenue for cross-fertilisation of ideas across distinct disciplines and commended the vice-chancellor for the opportunity.

Prof. Orji said the theme, “The Humanities and Environmental Issues in Post-colonial Africa”, was apt because the environment is a product of the relations people have with their dynamic bio-physical surroundings which in turn impacts humans in different areas.

He held that the call to protect the environment for sustainable development became imperative due to the pace of over-utilisation of natural resources. He expressed concern that the future generation could suffer deprivation.

Noting that the environment has become endangered due to the impact of industrialisation, Prof. Orji pointed out that Africa is suffocating from the burden of depilating and crippling environmental hazards such as deforestation, environmental degradation, air and water pollution, biodiversity loss and oil spillage.

He lamented that the Niger Delta region since the exploration of oil in the area is characterised by pollution and degradation of the environment and insecurity fuelled by intra and inter-communal conflicts and militancy.

He condemned government’s lacklustre approach and official ineptitude in the management of the environment.

Prof. Orji assured that the sub-themes were deliberately chosen to interrogate such issues with the aim of making the environment greener and a safer habitat.