FORESTS HOLD KEY TO SECURITY, JOBS — UNIVERSITY DON URGES BOLD GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
Anyigba – A professor of Geography, Adesola Ogidiolu, has urged the Federal Government to massively increase investment in forest development and management, saying it is critical to tackling insecurity, poverty, and unemployment in Nigeria.
Delivering the 18th inaugural lecture of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, titled _“Geographers in the Forest: Issues, Concerns and Tasks,”_ Prof. Ogidiolu warned that neglect of forest resources has turned them into ungoverned spaces now exploited by criminals.
“Forests have inadvertently become safe havens for criminal activities due to poor accessibility and limited surveillance,” he said. “Government must invest in modern monitoring technologies and proper management systems to reclaim these spaces and boost national security.”
- Advertisement -
He argued that forests offer huge economic potential if properly harnessed. “The time is now to deploy technology and skilled manpower to dislodge those using our forests as hideouts to terrorise citizens, while also unlocking the sector to create jobs, reduce poverty, and drive sustainable development,” he added.
Ogidiolu called for a national culture of tree planting and tougher penalties for illegal logging. “We must inculcate tree planting as a civic duty. Illegal felling of trees should attract stiff sanctions. Conservation must be a national priority, not an afterthought,” he said.
On sustainable management, he recommended expanding forest cover into marginal lands through collaboration between all tiers of government and the private sector. He also urged adoption of best silvicultural practices, including controlled harvesting, regeneration, and reforestation with fast-growing, adaptive species.
Addressing climate change, the don pressed for stronger compliance with global pacts. “We must proactively engage with international conventions like the Kyoto Protocol and prioritise cleaner energy to cut carbon emissions,” he noted.
He stressed that community participation is vital: “Forest protection cannot succeed without locals. Forest Protection Communities and volunteer groups will create ownership and curb illegal activities.”
Ogidiolu highlighted bioprospecting as an untapped revenue stream. “Exploring wild plants and animals for genetic and biochemical resources can boost income and scientific knowledge,” he said.
He called on government to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks stalling conservation. “Good forest governance, poverty reduction in forest communities, and alternative livelihoods are key to long-term success,” he stated.
In his remarks, PAAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, pledged to strengthen the university’s intellectual culture. “Inaugural lectures are defining moments of scholarship that bridge the university and society. We will reposition them as a vibrant, impactful tradition,” he said.
Usman described the lecture theme as timely, noting geographers’ role in tackling climate change and deforestation. “This challenges us to rethink our relationship with the environment and adopt interdisciplinary solutions,” he said. “Our goal is to make inaugural lectures celebrated events that reflect the nobility of scholarship.”
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, APRIL 21ST 2026)
