A Keynote Address By The Dean, Faculty Of Environmental Sciences

Abstract

PROTOCOL

Mr. Chairman, it is routine in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University for faculties to roll out their drum beats every year to organize international or just conferences on issues on the frontier of knowledge and research. This practice emanates from the Vice-Chancellor’s encouragement and drive to place our university where it should belong. The current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Greg Nwakoby is never tired of stressing that there is enough funds for TETfund research and pursuit of higher degrees lying unutilized.

Conferences such as this provide opportunities for showcasing research output in a bid to allow other scholars have an input in fellow researchers’ output after which presenters refurbish their papers for publication in a Google or high impact journal. Fortunately, we have here in our faculty a Google scholar journal in which we intend to publish the very best papers from this conference. We also publish proceedings of our conference papers.

As a faculty in the built environment our conference themes have always been chosen from our physical, social, cultural, economic and environmental milieu. This year our theme is “Challenges of Climate Change to National Development.” We chose this theme because the greatest challenge facing man, animal, vegetation and accumulated tract of our civilization is climate change. Researchers agree that climate change affects all aspects of our existence, just as human activities, rapid population growth, unbridled capitalist consumption, urbanization and technology can change climate. The presentations and discussions at this conference are intended to change our attitudes and behavior towards the environment which nurtures all living entities. It is also intended to showcase the challenges posed by climate change/variability such that those in government will have reasons to formulate policies to mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of climate change and enable people adapt to the consequences of climate change. Mr. Chairman, the taste of the pudding, they say is in the eating. It is my hope and desire that this conference will accomplish what we planned for.

Mr. Chairman, allow me welcome all the conferees, physical and virtual from Anambra State, surrounding states and the larger Nigerian entity. We hope at the end we will come up with achievable recommendations and strategies that will make us in the language of the International Panel on Climate Change to think global and act local.

I want to appreciate our Vice-Chancellor for creating the supportive environment for this conference to hold despite security threats in Nigeria. I thank the distinguished Chairman of this opening ceremony for accepting to chair this session in spite of the national and professional assignments he is on at this moment. Prof. Ahiamba you are welcome. I thank the distinguished guest speaker, Prof. P.A. Odjugo, distinguished in Nigeria and abroad in the field of climatology. I appreciate the Chairman and members of the Local Organizing Committee. I thank the entire Faculty for funding the conference. I appreciate our dear students, undergraduate and postgraduate, for their interest in this conference. I thank in a unique way the members of Anambra State Executive Council for their enthusiasm and interest, especially the Hon. Commissioners of Environment and Agriculture, who indicated they will not only attend, but will also present papers at this opening ceremony.

It is my sincere and earnest prayer that the Almighty God will see us through and lead us safely back to our various destinations.

Thank you for your patience.

Prof. Leonard N. Muoghalu

Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences,

Uli Campus.