,,,,Renowned climate scientist Prof. Adegoke to lead initiative targeting flood control through research and innovation.
By Correspondent in Lokoja
In a bold move to combat the recurring flood disasters ravaging the Niger Basin, the Federal University Lokoja (FUL, Kogi State,has inaugurated a Centre for Flood Management and Control, signaling a new era of proactive, research-based solutions in environmental resilience.
A statement from the public relations office of the university and a copy available to The Reporters in Lokoja, North Central Nigeria,on Thursday showed that the Centre, was formally launched at a ceremony held at the university.
It added that the centre will focus on deploying cutting-edge research, policy advocacy, and community engagement to address flooding, a perennial challenge affecting millions across ten West African nations.
FUL revealed that at the heart of this initiative is Professor Jimmy Adegoke, an internationally recognized climate scientist and former faculty member at Kansas City University, USA
Assuming office as the pioneer Director of the Centre. Prof. Adegoke is expected to bring global expertise to local challenges, as the Centre begins strategic studies in flood-prone areas of Kogi State in partnership with the state government.
Speaking during the launch, the Vice-Chancellor of the university,Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi emphasized the importance of the Centre in offering practical, science-based interventions for disaster risk reduction:
“This Centre represents our resolve to provide practical, research-driven interventions that strengthen the region’s capacity to prepare for, manage, and recover from flood disasters,” he said.
The Centre aims to become a regional hub for innovation, training, and public policy advocacy, all geared toward reducing the loss of lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods to seasonal floods that have become increasingly frequent due to climate change.
Experts and environmental stakeholders have hailed the move as a model for other institutions in flood-prone regions of Africa.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
