The University of Ibadan’s Heritage Park and Gardens, a symbol of the institution’s rich history and legacy, has been destroyed to make way for the Ivory Tower’s new Senate Building.
The “sacred space”, developed to commemorate UI’s 60th anniversary, held immense sentimental value and emotional significance to the higher institution.
Like thieves in the night, workers deployed by the university authorities stole into the luxuriant, green, tree-rich park before dawn and took a chainsaw to it. By the time the residents in the University Campus were waking up to a new day on Wednesday, November 21, 2024, the entire park had been destroyed. Over 100 trees were reportedly cut down.
Provision for a new Senate Building had already been made in the University of Ibadan Masterplan, in a totally different location.
But the university authorities, with Federal Government funding, had set their sights on the space occupied by Heritage Park, opposite Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Heritage Park was conceptualised, designed and implemented by Prof. Labode Popoola, during his tenure as Dean of the Post Graduate School in the University of Ibadan, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the University of Ibadan in 2008.
Prof. Popoola, currently Executive Secretary/CEO of African Forest Forum in Nairobi, had appealed on several occasions earlier this year, when plans to destroy the park had become public knowledge to Federal Ministries, former Vice Chancellors, Pro Chancellors and several others with any pretension to authority within the university sector.
He said: “How do we follow through on conservation efforts when the highest institution of learning which should be a beacon of hope is doing otherwise? Heritage Park, University of Ibadan, is gone.
“Today will pass as one of the saddest days in my over 40 years sojourn at the University of Ibadan. I do not, however, blame the powers that be who did the unimaginable. I blame those who should have led the protest against this heist but chose to keep a deafening silence for reasons they will forever live to regret!”
Environmentalists have also frowned at the development, saying that demolition of the iconic landmark is an indictment of the university’s administration.
According to the conservationists, the university administrators’ collective failure to preserve and protect the cherished heritage site raises questions about their commitment to the university’s values and traditions.
Rosalie-Ann Modder Oyefeso of The Save Our Green Spaces Group said: “Enlightenment is not merely about titles, positions, or credentials; it’s about wisdom, foresight, and a deep understanding of the consequences of one’s actions. The destruction of the Heritage Park and Gardens is a stark reminder that true enlightenment is sorely lacking in the university’s leadership.
“One might make excuses for entrepreneur property developers or state governors or even delegates at COP29 pretending to commit to climate change mitigation, on the grounds that tertiary education, through no fault of their own, is not their strongest suit.
“Because if it was, they wouldn’t be neck deep in large scale deforestation all over the country.
“But what excuse can one make for Nigeria’s oldest University which even boasts a long-standing Department of Forestry?
“Today, the authorities of the University of Ibadan, securely backed by Federal might, have not only destroyed a thing of beauty and rich, environmental benefit.
“They have also destroyed the credibility of their academia as the most learned in the myriad ramifications of deforestation and climate change.
“Today, as Nigeria’s foremost Centre of Excellence, they have set an unfortunate precedent for the rest of the country.”
