Climate change: Ogun poly rector urges attitudinal change

Dr. Kehinde Oseni, Rector of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, has called for a fundamental shift in attitudes towards environmental protection, stressing that it is a shared responsibility. Speaking at the institution's World Environment Day celebration, Dr. Oseni stated that combating climate change and environmental degradation requires the active participation of students, stakeholders, and the public, not just governments and environmental experts.

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Nature remains our greatest teacher. Every tree, every river, every forest, and every ecosystem demonstrates the principles of balance, sustainability and coexistence.

Under the theme "Inspired by Nature: For Climate. For Our Future," the event highlighted nature as a crucial teacher. Dr. Oseni explained that natural systems demonstrate balance, sustainability, and coexistence, offering valuable lessons for addressing current environmental crises. He asserted that protecting the environment is a vital investment in the future, with many solutions to climate-related issues discoverable within nature itself.

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Let us be reminded that protecting our environment is an investment in the future of generations yet unborn. Many of the solutions to climate challenges can be found in nature itself.

Dr. Oseni cautioned that the effects of climate change are no longer a distant threat but a present reality. He pointed to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as flooding and droughts, rising temperatures, and disruptions to agricultural production as clear evidence. These environmental challenges, he noted, pose significant risks to public health, food security, economic development, and the overall quality of life.

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Climate change is no longer a distant threat. We experience its effects daily through extreme weather conditions, flooding, erosion, droughts, rising temperatures and disruptions to agricultural production.

The Rector commended the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Environmental Biology and Microbiology Option for its consistent efforts in promoting environmental awareness. He described their annual World Environment Day observance as a tradition that inspires students to embrace environmental stewardship. Dr. Oseni urged students to take practical steps in conservation, emphasizing that individual actions, like proper waste disposal, play a crucial role in collective environmental efforts.

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Every individual has a role to play. Simple actions such as proper waste d