Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja
A former Director General of Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Mr. Anthony Anuforom, has warned Nigerians and vulnerable states to be wary of the devastating effect of flood occasioned by climate change, recalling that Kogi State alone lost property worth N63.4 billion to flood in 2012.
He said Nigeria was rated as 10th most vulnerable to climate change or global warming, because of the nature the country hosting two biggest rivers and Atlantic ocean, noting that there has been high intensity of rainfall in the country and the attendants flooding would continue to pose serious threats in the years to come.
Anuforom, who gave this warning while speaking at the 10th year anniversary of Confluence International Academy in Lokoja, stated that the story of climate change would not be palatable for the future generations while stakeholders must adopt a strategy and functional development plan for response to mitigate the emerging effects of global warming.
He lamented that the 2012 flood wreaked havoc in no fewer than 22 states including Kogi State, saying apart from pockets of deaths recorded, property, farmland and produce estimated at N63.4 billion were destroyed in the affected nine local government areas of the state.
He added that the present threats of climate change would continue to pose serious challenges as new diseases are already emerging, stressing that there was an urgent need to inculcate effects of global warming into the minds of the younger generation now.
“Education must prepare learners to understand the current crisis and shape the future. To save our planet, we must transform the
way we live, produce, consume and interact with nature. Integrating education for sustainable development into all learning programmes must become fundamental, everywhere,” he said.
He posited that it was high time the Federal Ministry of Education and Science and Technology developed a curriculum on “Climate Change”, adding that through ICT, the School children should be made agents to create more awareness on global warming.
The ex-NIMET boss, who is a representatives of Nigeria with World Meteorological Organisation, however, admonished state governments, whose States are highly vulnerable to develop strategic functional climate change response and to always liaise with NIMET for early warning signs and predictions from the agency.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman Board of Governors, Mr Ruben Jigah, stated that the Academy’s vision statement was to attain academic excellence, wisdom, integrity and become relevant in the changing the world, stressing the mission is to provide conducive learning environment in which every child has the opportunity to make use of their mind for sound decisions in all areas of human endeavours.
