By Adeyinka Adeniran
A Professor of Forest Economics and Sustainable Development at the University of Ibadan and Executive Secretary, African Forest Forum, Labode Popoola has identified climate change and mismanagement of natural resources as the main causes of conflict in different parts of the country.
Noting that climate change which results in extreme weather and flooding, among other effects has displaced many people from their homes and cut off the source of livelihood for many others, thereby leading to forceful migration.
Professor Popoola spoke in an aside interview shortly after delivering his keynote speech at the maiden hybrid conference of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan, Ibadan on Tuesday.
The 5day conference theme: “Renewable Natural Resources Management and Use: A path to Sustainable Development”, is ongoing at the 1st bank Building, Faculty of Agriculture, UI.
The Don, a former Vice Chancellor, Osun state University, however challenged media practitioners and researchers to engage in indepth investigations and researches to unearth major causes of conflict as against sensationalism, ethnic profiling or putting down reports from the head rather than the field.
He said, “There’s climate change. Climate change is leading to conflicts. Most of the times when you have conflicts in Nigeria, the first thing that comes to your mind, unfortunately, in the media, is one ethnic group trying to attack the other. That is not true. Conflicts are arising from climate change. People being displaced from where they have their livelihood.
“No rainfall. It’s creating conflict in many places. People losing their livelihoods as a result of flooding. So there’s so many conflicts around the world and it is traceable to mismanagement of our natural resources. And so we have to do something about that. And I want to challenge the media to tell the truth
“Research very well. Sensational news is what dominates the world. You read things in the social media. Nothing concrete. Nothing deep. And that will not help us in our development. It will not. And I think the media is very important in this. Report the truth. Research the truth.
“And researchers must also tell us things based on research. Not things in their mind. Not perceptions. It is something that is affecting us. Now you supervise a project. The student is writing what is in his mind. That when you get to the northern part of Nigeria, women are dispossessed, but statistics don’t necessarily show this.
“Statistics show that more women in the northern part of Nigeria have access to land than in the southwestern part of Nigeria. So we should stop publishing what is in our mind. Let us publish things that are based on hard facts.”
The Don noted that, as the world grapple with increasing demands for food, materials and energy, driven by population growth and consumption, renewable natural resources offer a viable pathway to support economic prosperity while maintaining ecological balance.
He however added that the potentials can only be realized through strategic policy direction, targeted investment, innovation and widespread societal engagement.
In his goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale said Nigeria, and Africa at large, stands at a crossroads as her rich endowment of renewable natural resources: forests, water, fisheries, wildlife, fertile soils, and biodiversity which forms the bedrock of her economies, cultures, and ecosystems are challenged.
He lamented that, the resources face unprecedented deforestation, desertification, biodiversity pressure: loss, soil degradation, water scarcity, and the pervasive impacts of climate change, adding that the challenges threaten food security, livelihoods, peace, and the planetary health.
He commended the faculty for the conference, expressing optimism that the conference will confronts the realities head-on, adding, “It asserts that the sustainable management and innovative use of renewable natural resources are not optional ideals but the only viable path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Poverty eradication, zero hunger, climate action, life on land and below water all hinge on how wisely we steward these gifts of nature.”
Noting that the path to sustainable development is paved with the wise management of renewable natural resources, the VC said, it demands courage, innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to intergenerational equity. He assures that the University of Ibadan, through the Faculty and the pivotal conference, is ready to lead the way.
Country Representative of World Fish in Nigeria, Sunil Sriwadana lauded the initiative for its focus on renewable resources management which he noted is very important.
In his goodwill message, he harped on what he described as the most important and most neglected resource, the water, noting that only a good water policy can save the future from an impending crisis.
He said, “Because water is in high demand and almost all the sectors are competing for water. So unless we have a good idea about the water demand outlook for about another 10 years, we will be in trouble. So we need to have a good understanding. And that leads to the question, how important is the integrated planning among all the economic sectors.
“Nigeria has good policies in place. Even recently, we worked with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to help them to develop the first policy on fisheries and aquaculture. I think there are a lot of good policies. The only thing is it has to be implemented and adopted.”
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the conference, Dr Siyanbola Omitoyin, said the conference aims to achieve several key objectives including: fostering collaboration and partnership with donors, sponsors, and the community to strengthen the town-gown relationship.
She said the goal is to chart a new course for renewable natural resources management and development, adding that “many of our natural resources have been depleted or used unsustainably. We want to ensure that future generations have a sustainable future.”
