The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, has charged the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to lead the search for solutions to the debilitating flooding and other effects of climatic change damaging parts of the country.
He gave the charge on Monday during his working visit to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) in the university.
The Minister said with the equipment and quality of manpower at the centre, FUTA has what it takes to help the country solve its numerous number of environmental challenges.
The Director of the Centre, Prof KehindeOgunjobi, while briefing the minister and his entourage, said part of the mandate of the centre, which is being supported by the German government, is to train competent weather and climate scientists capable of providing viable solutions to weather and climate-related problems in agriculture, water resources and allied sectors for enhanced and sustainable agricultural production, food security and sustainable environment in West Africa.
Explaining further, Prof Ogunjobi said WASCAL develops climate hazard and vulnerability maps for climate change adaptation and water resources management system for the sub-region and was ready to collaborate with the ministry in tackling the country’s environmental challenges.
“Over the years, we have trained students from across West African sub-region on climate related issues. We have graduates and quite a number of doctoral and Masters degree students who are spread all over the world ensuring that climate and weather-related issues are properly managed,” he said.
The director took the minister and his team (the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Shehu Ahmed; the Executive Director, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Dr. Adepoju Adeshol) and FUTA management, led by the vice chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape, round facilities at the centre, which include Standard World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Meteorological Observatory and a High Performance (computing facility cluster) used for high speed simulation of Weather/NWP and climate models, among others.
The minister expressed great delight with the WASCAL-FUTA operation, stating his ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the centre to tackle weather and climate-related matters.
The vice chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape, appreciated the minister’s positive comment about FUTA. He said the institution is always in collaboration with reputable establishments locally and other international institutions.Labels: Campus News
