4th April, 2018
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nasarawa State University says it is seeking collaboration with the Department of Environmental Assessment of the Ministry of Environment on how to address environmental challenges.
Prof. Nasiru Idris, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences of the university, said this during a courtesy visit to the ministry on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the collaboration would provide occasions to establish a comprehensive approach to scoping, data collection and analysis on all environmental challenges and proffer solutions to them.
“Evaluating the environmental impacts of a project prior to its implementation is an essential part of sound decision-making, hence, the need to work with relevant bodies to offer solutions to mitigate the challenges.
“The collaboration will also help scholars to acquire a foundational knowledge in federal environmental laws and policies, so they can effectively develop impact studies before prospective plans or programmes are carried out,’’ he said.
Idris said that the collaboration would also help the two bodies in capacity building, training and research as well as development of their staff and scholars.
“The capacity building will help to obtain, improve and retain the skills and knowledge needed for optimal performance.
“Training will help educate the society for better tomorrow and you will agree with me that the entire Environmental Impacts Assessment process came as a result of knowledge base.
“Research and development aim at discovering solutions to problems and the world will be a better place if research and development continues,’’ he said.
In his response, Mr John Alonge, Director, Department of Environmental Assessment in the ministry, said it was a privilege to have members of the university seeking to collaborate with them.
“What we are seeing in Nasarawa State University has not been seen in other universities in bridging the gap in Environmental Impact Assessment Panel Review, so keep it up.
“We need back-up from you and other institutions so that we can work together based on scientific principles to move Nigeria and its environment forward,’’ he said.