By Okechukwu Okechukwu
Scholars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, Thursday, urged collaborative efforts and attitudinal change towards managing and sustaining the environments in the country.
They spoke at the NAU's faculty of Environmental Sciences (FES) maiden installation & award ceremony of environmental sustainability partners (ESPS) organised in conjunction with a taskforce on waste disposal and environmental cleaniness, held at the university in Awka.
According to them, religious and traditional leaders, corporate institutions, schools, government, individuals, formal and non formal sectors, need commitment, increased public awareness, money and other resources to maintain clean and healthy environment.
Speaking at the event, the Dean of FES, Professor Chinedu Okoye, observed that Nigerians put their lives at stake by mismanaging environment in various ways, thereby endangering their lives and properties as well.
"We have come to identify that environment is very large and if we don't manage it well, we are endangering our lives. You don't have to destroy the environment while engaging in any means of livelihood," Okoye noted.
He added that the programme was aimed at celebrating over 40 successful stakeholders in environmental sector with awards of excellence, increasing public awareness on environmental issues and mobilising resources to making NAU environment healthy and inhabitable for effective teaching and learning.
Presenting a paper entitled achieving effective, efficient and sustainable community environmental sanitation by 2030: the role of everyone, the Guest Lecturer, Dr David Onuoha, called for responsiveness, action, teamwork, sincerity and increased public awareness for proper environmental management and sanitation.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Estate Surveyor Raji Adewale, represented by Mr Inimfon Isaya, observed that the way humans interact with environment shape and impact the environment and the entire ecosystem.
On his part, the Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Felix Odumegwu, said governor Chukwuma Soludo administration had proposed a law and other mechanisms geared towards making everyone a participator in sanitation and environmental management.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone, encouraged the younger generations to tour the line of nature, develop passion, commitment and synergy towards building a sustainable environment.
Speaking in an interview, the FES Taskforce Chairman, Dr Joseph Senator Onyejiaka, while thanking God for success of the programme, hinted that it armed them with more resources and opportunities to engage and synergise with others towards combating environmental challenges, including indiscriminate waste disposal, for sustainable, green and healthy Anambra.