Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has called for greater sense of urgency in combating the challenges of climate change.
Aiyedatiwa said this on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at the unveiling of two global complimentary initiatives by Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), the RUGIPO Centre for Climate Change and Ondo Diaspora Festival.
The theme of the programme is “Attaining Climate Smart Ondo State and Mega Cultural Bound Revenue Generation”.
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Environment, Niyi Oseni, said that climate change posed various dangers to human existence, hence the need to quickly proffer solutions to the menace.
The governor, who commended the management of RUGIPO for spearheading a cause to protect the environment, said: “Our collective existence is at risk unless utmost major decisions are made to address climate change.
“This being the reality, we must collectively begin to utilise the appropriate available platforms such as the RUGIPO Centre for Climate Change and Ondo Diaspora Festival Initiative to develop workable initiatives to nip climate change in the bud.
“Among other things, a climate smart city project requires energy efficiency support through a rapid deployment of energy efficient technologies, improved urban planning, access to climate information and financing.”
He said that the state government had made frantic efforts to combat the menace of climate change through the Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency (OSEPA).
He said that the agency had carried out public enlightenment through aggressive campaign against climate pollution.
According to him, people of the state are now aware and cautious of activities that can particularly trigger climate change.
Also, the Acting Rector of RUGIPO, Mr Olorunwa Adegun, said that it would be perilous for the world to ignore implications of climate change.
Adegun asked all hands to be on deck in the determined bid to massively and urgently address the global challenge posed by climate change.
He said that a tertiary institution, which is the most strategically positioned platform where solutions for societal challenges are proffered as products of research, has key roles to play.
The acting rector added that the attendant peril of climate change informed his resolve to establish a climate change centre in the institution.
According to him, the centre has a full-fledged potential based on the extant modalities of the United Nations.
Adegun assured that the centre would be made consistently functional in line with global best practices and would impact positively on both its immediate and remote environment.
He explained that the centre would develop adaptation and mitigation strategies to aid the United Nation’s development goals in its immediate environment and beyond.
Adegun stated that the two concepts: climate change and tourism/culture, were entwined to carry out research for huge benefits of the institution and the state.
Dr Zainab Obadakin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Kogi, commended the management of the institution for its initiative on climate change and culture concepts.
Obadakin said that through diaspora cultural engagement, the two states could generate 1,000 direct and indirect job opportunities.
Mr Bamidele Ajayi, Head of Administration, RUGIPO Centre for Climate Change, said that the occasion was an innovative event to change the face of the institution.
Ajayi explained that the centre was a timely response to address the climate change implications, saying that no one should be left out in tackling climate change considering its great menace on the human existence.
He said that the institution through the centre was well positioned to tackle climate change.
The director called on every well-meaning Nigerian to support the initiative and ensure that the centre was able to fulfil its objectives toward human existence.
In his remarks, Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, said that climate change was caused by human activities, hence the need for proper orientation.
Ogunoye, who was represented by Chief Amos Aladeseye, appreciated the institution’s initiative, saying it will go a long way in sensitising the people about climate change.
By Alaba Olusola Oke
