From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
A University don, Professor Dauda Tanko of FUL said the inability of the Nigeria’s policy makers to adopt the strategies to achieve conservation of natural resources for sustainable economic development has made Nigeria the headquarters of the world poverty Nations.
Prof. Tanko made this assertion in his paper titled ” Biodiversity Conversation for Sustainable Economic in a post Covid-19 Era , Dress it and keep it, for this is the whole duty of man presented at the 11th inaugural lecture of the Federal University, Lokoja, (FUL) held at the main Auditorium, Adankolo Campus.
Professor Tanko observed that It is clear that the policy strategies adopted to achieve conservation of natural resources for sustainable economic development and other goals, have failed Nigeria.
“Today hunger is ravaging the land; poverty is fast overtaking the country, as Nigeria is leading the world poverty secretariat as its Headquarters. Insecurity is the order of the day ravaging the lives of the innocent seasons and making conservation activities almost impossible.
“Our communities are deeply and profoundly knowledgeable about their ecosystems which can be exploited for national economic development.”
“Government and policy makers must partner with local communities because there are useful things that knows about the ecosystem that others do not. We must tap from this knowledge to make progress”,
He said the community-based strategy will help Nigeria to be come a self-reliant economy and facilitate the achievement of the biodiversity conservation goals for sustainable economic development.
“Biodiversity is critical to the maintenance of a healthy environment. Biodiversity not only provides direct benefits such as food medicines and energy, it also affords us a “life support system”, he said.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor of FUL, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi commended Prof. Tanko for his well-researched lecture stressing that these are the qualities of Professors that propelling Federal University Lokoja to limelight.
Prof. Akinwumi pointed out that the university would establish a Zoological and Biological Garden before the end of this year.
