The Vice Chancellor Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, has advocated for the establishment of a research centre in states that are prone to perennial flooding as a way to reduce the impact of the natural disaster.
Prof. Akinwumi who made the call at the opening ceremony of a 3-day first international conference on flooding organised by the university in Lokoja, Kogi state, Wednesday, said the conference was aimed at highlighting the critical issue that threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of people living in the Niger – Benue trough, extending to the coastal region of Nigeria.
According to him, the theme of the conference, “Flood and Sustainable Development,” was timely, considering the menace of the natural disaster.
“The call for the establishment of the Research Centre in Lokoja, is part of the strategic reasoning of the Federal University Lokoja that would support research on various aspects of flooding,” he said.
He stated that the university was prepared to partner with individuals and institutions towards the realisation of such centre.
The state governor, Yahaya Bello, in his speech said the state government had been proactive in handling the issue of flooding in the state, noting that the 2022 flood disaster really put the state government on its toes.
Governor Bello, who was represented by his Commissioner for Environment, Victor Omofaiye, lauded the effort of the university for initiating and organising the conference on flood and tasked the participants of the conference to do justice to the topic.
Flood: VC advocates research centre in Kogi
