Don urges parents to imbibe good environmental tennets in children at home

Picture caption: Prof. Godson Ana delivering the 499 inaugural lecture on Thursday 19 August 2021.

Citing the increasing human activities that have polluted both the outdoor and indoor air over the years leading to severe consequences on the environment, climate and health particularly among children that are the most distressed and vulnerable to air pollution, a university don, Godson Ana, has called on parents and caregivers to imbibe and entrench good environmental tennets to their children at the household level in almost a similar manner in which they are concerned about their educational advancement.

Prof. Ana, while delivering the 499 Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan titled ‘Nature’s Blanket and God’s Heritage in Dis(X)tress: Who’s the deliverer’ on Thursday 19 August 2021, said children if well trained and nurtured will serve as the “deliverer” providing a critical mass of people, leaders and experts to propagate the ideals of Environmental health and particularly air quality management.

The don went further, “The training must begin from home and mothers have a key role to play. It is imperative that government must ensure that environmental health is integrated into the school curriculum at all levels. The University of Ibadan and hence government must appropriate adequate resources to air quality management in terms of training, equipment, monitoring and enforcement regime in order to save our atmospheric ecosystem from further dis(X)tress.”

He stressed that there is a need for a paradigm shift in our attitude towards the environment, adding that the value system must change, and that children must be vanguards of the new movement prepared to take over as captured in the introduction of YES clubs in schools. “That is why I welcome us to support the foundation child Health Environment and Safety Trust (CHEST) established to nurture a new leadership for children to handle our environment. The change must begin from our homes. Our children hitherto the most impacted if well-groomed and nurtured will certainly be our DELIVERER tomorrow,” he added.

Prof. Ana recommended among other things that, “Environmental Education, Advocacy and Awareness creation must be increased beyond its current modicum level. To do this Government must recognise the need, initiate the process and implement the development of environmental education at all school levels. Knowledge they say is Power. Hence the Deliverer of the planet earth from environmental decadence MUST be armed with requisite and relevant knowledge which is really the PANACEA.  With regards to awareness creation there should be a bill mandating all electronic and print media as well as the social media and different service providers to incorporate environmental messages into their publicity, publication and advertorial platforms.

“There must be an aggressive campaign and Reorientation programme on change in attitude and values system as it bothers on the environment. This change in attitude and unwholesome practices towards the environment would contribute to abating the various forms of environmental degradation including air pollution. To do this government must engage all media groups, national orientation agencies, provide enabling environment for more mass transit vehicle and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, provide biking and trekking lanes, provide incentives for tree planting, production of biofuels and discourage indiscriminate open burning of refuse and farmlands.

“Air quality in Nigeria is still in its infancy stage and there appears to be dearth of experts in the field. In view of the increasing burden of air pollution problems and the high prevalence of air pollution related morbidities and mortalities as elucidated by the WHO and other related united nation organs there is an urgent need for an aggressive and massive manpower training for technical experts in Air Quality Management across all institutions of higher learning especially at the post graduate level. Government through TETFUND and other agencies should provide scholarships and grants for in country and overseas technical training courses on different aspects of Air quality management,” he opined.

Prof. Ana with his family.

Elated Ana said as the flagship Department of Environmental Health Sciences, the University of Ibadan should establish a solar-powered air monitoring station for real time monitoring of atmospheric parameters integrated with meteorological parameters as well. “Government must as a matter of priority establish air monitoring stations in at least all the ecological zones of the country in the first instance and gradually to states and LGAs in the Urban centres. This can be done with relevant international collaborators. This will create a network of database for the nation. The presence of such a facility will address the problem of snapshot data capturing and will improve the quality of data for both spatial and temporal analysis which has often been the bane of comprehensive database for modelling.”

The erudite scholar said it is very expedient that an effective and efficient monitoring and surveillance system be put in place. Adding that routine and effective air monitoring and surveillance is key to unravelling the magnitude and spread of the air pollutants which in itself is a prerequisite for instituting appropriate air pollution interventions

“The absence of strict enforcement regime by relevant environmental regulatory organisations in the country such as National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Environmental Health Officer’s Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) jeopardises the little gains of air quality management that is in place in most facilities. There is a need for Government to employ more of these categories of staff, equip them with requisite facilities, provide adequate incentives for them and create appropriate feedback mechanisms that will ensure effective sanctions against those found culpable and seen to be infringing on state environmental laws and guidelines,” he added.

Prof. Ana opined that the University should as a matter of priority create a unit or centre to be known as University Environmental Health Management Services (UEHMS), an off shoot of the erstwhile University of Ibadan Clean and Green Programme to coordinate all environmental issues such as air quality monitoring, water supply and quality monitoring, waste management, vector control, sanitation, tree planting and beautification among others on campus. “This will ensure that adequate funds are appropriated to environmental issues from all budgetary provisions made in the university. In this manner programmes such as environmental workshops during fresher’s orientation and other activities will be prioritised and adequately catered for.”

The inaugural lecture, attended by the university management, academic colleagues, family members, friends, professional colleagues and well-wishers of Professor Godson Ana is the 12th from the Faculty of Public Health and the 1st from the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the University.