From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A Professor of Environmental Microbiology, Director of the Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Prof. Kirk Semple, has said one of the major causes of deaths across the globe is as result of pollution.
He said this while speaking as a guest speaker on the topic “Bioavailability of pollutants in soil: Fundamentals to application at the 2023 Oba Ogunwusi Adeyeye Ojaja II College of Natural Sciences Annual Lecture, Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO).
Prof. Semple said pollution is a global phenomenon but high in the third world countries adding that it is driven by urbanization.
Semple said pollution contaminate the soil which invariably has negative impact on agricultural products.
The environmental Professor, while profiling solutions to the impact of pollution, recommended continuous sensitization of the public and adopting environmental best practices as some of the sure ways of mitigating them hence it cannot be totally eradicated.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said it his hope that the outcome of the lecture stimulates further interrogation and provide the impetus for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal No. 15 which is geared towards making life more comfortable on land.
He added that this has become necessary if we are to reduce the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity which are part of our common heritage and support for global food and water security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, with ultimate impact on peace and security.
Prof. Ezemonye who said the event coincided with the World Environment Day, said if we do not protect our environment, we might end up destroying ourselves.
He further decried how waste, especially plastics are managed in the country and called for a holistic approach to solving the problem.
Earlier, Dean, College of Natural Sciences and Applied Sciences, Prof. Longi Anyanwu, described the lecture as apt, urging the students to make best use of the outcome of the lecture.
