World Ocean Day: UNICAL VC commends MACORN

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar Prof. Florence Obi has commended the Marine Atmosphere and Coastal Ocean Research Network (MACORN) for striving to consolidate the gains the 'Oceans' offer to Humanity, Myschoolnews report.

Prof. Florence Obi gave the commendation while declaring open the Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar's celebration of World Ocean Day held at the Institute's Conference Room.

Expressing her appreciation to the Oceanography family at the University of Calabar for the event which has as its theme, "Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing", the varsity administrator said she was proud that the Institution is the first to have a Faculty of Oceanography in Nigeria as well as the African sub-region, even as she eulogized them for marking and celebrating the World Ocean Day together with other lovers of Ocean Worldwide.

She reiterated the fact that there are a lot of opportunities open to Oceanographers as far as the ocean is concerned, adding that, marine fishing supplies us with much-valued seafood protein, wind energy that reduces carbon emissions, coastal zone management in the era of coastal degradation and much more.

While stressing the importance of the ocean to mankind, the Vice Chancellor urged both staff and students of the Faculty/Institute of Oceanography to strive, despite the minimal resources in the face of global economic meltdown, to make the Institution great again like in the 90s.

Prof. Obi admonished the lecturers to groom students who can embark on research within and outside the country, adding that research exposes students to new knowledge that would make them become professionals and experts in their fields of study.

While emphasizing that the University is more interested in producing quality graduates that can always stand out and defend their certificates and qualifications, the university helmsman urged the oceanographers to take advantage of the environment since the university is mostly littoral.

Charging the students to be more serious and open their minds and hearts to learning, she expressed the optimism that the lecturers in the faculty/institute would always give their best, even as she added that Oceanographers should count themselves lucky because of the lucrative nature of the field.

In an earlier remark, the Director, MACORN, Prof. Francis Emile Asuquo while appreciating the Vice Chancellor for deciding to grace the occasion despite her busy schedule said that it was indeed an honour and privilege to have her in person to mark the year's World Ocean Day".

Prof. Asuquo used the occasion to urge Oceanographers to exploit the tropical Atlantic Ocean because it is an important resource to sustain life.

In his remark, the Dean of Oceanography, Prof. Ekpo Antai charged the students to make an effort as mariners and environmentalists to protect the ocean against harmful practices for a sustainable environment for the future.

While appealing to the Vice Chancellor for support; academically, in infrastructural development and in terms of manpower, Prof. Antai stressed that the essence of World Ocean Day is to create awareness of the abuse of the Ocean against pollutants of any sort.

In his word, "It is imperative that man has to take care of the ocean so that we don't lose what God has given to us.

Delivering a public lecture on the occasion, a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Oceanography, Dr Fidelis Ankwo Abija who spoke on the topic, "Physical Oceanography and Marine Geotechnics as Key to Mitigation and Reversal of Global Climate Change Disasters" informed that his research focuses on the development of novel technologies, adding that, the developing of novel technologies is for the design and safe operation of key infrastructures for energy and resource extraction from the marine environment.

Dr Abija while disclosing that the reversal of climate change-induced disaster through adaptive engineering, revealed what will avert deep ocean disasters including wave monitoring and predictive modelling, as well as, the construction of what he termed a floating breakwater.

The Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical Oceanography, Unical explained that breakwaters are wave energy barriers designed to protect any landform or water area behind them from a direct assault of waves, this is even as he informed that to avert deep ocean disasters, there should be a design of appropriate and adequate foundations for offshore energy, as well as, naval infrastructure and facilities.

The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of the World Ocean Day 2023 Award to the Vice Chancellor and Certificate of Participation to 5 Students who took part in an Essay Competition to mark the World Ocean Day Celebration.