The Dean, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, FEES, Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Aliyu Salisu-Barau, has said incessant maltreatment of the environment is one of the factors igniting the security crisis in Nigeria and other countries.
Mr Barau, who stated this at the 1st interdisciplinary hybrid conference on sustainability and ecological resilience in the Muslim world, said the future looks bleak if drastic measures are not taken to protect the environment.
Speaking on the theme of the conference: ‘Addressing Global and Local Environmental Crises: Islamic Perspectives and Muslim Experiences’, held in Kano, Mr Barau said humanity is already engulfed by multiple ecological crises that amplify massive social insecurity and economic collapse that loom large everywhere.
The university don noted that the human race has thrown away responsibility and accountability for the planet that God entrusted us with for intergenerational use and sharing.
“In many countries, the per capita luxury CO2 emissions of 10% of their population is higher than the essential emissions of the 90% of poorer population. over the decades, we have witnessed efforts put in place by governments, international institutions, universities, media, and civil society to save the planet.
“Nevertheless, the crises keep rising steadily, deeply, and irreversibly disturbing.
“For instance, since the last five years, every year is hotter than its predecessor, and this is seriously threatening our lives, wellbeing, mental health, and resilience to diseases,” the lecturer asserted.
Mr Barau insisted that as land degradation escalates globally, security threats, droughts, floods, storms, and other climate extreme events push “us off a clip and points of no return.
While commending the organisers for the initiative, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sagir Adamu-Abbas, said the conference was a call to action.
“This conference is not a merely an academic exercise; it is a call to action. We must harness the power of faith to inspire collective action and create a world where environmental sustainability is not just an ambition but a lived reality.
“As a leading institution of learning and scholarship in Nigeria, we are committed to using our platform to bridge the gap between knowledge and action, between faith and practice.
“We believe that through collaboration, dialogue, and a shared commitment to the principles of Islam, we can build a more just and sustainable future for generations to come,” said Mr Abbas.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Abubakar Adamu-Rasheed, said the environment has been a topical issue of discussion for over two decades and is being discussed at several international and national fora to address its sustainability.
He, however, warned that neglecting the environment is detrimental to the wellbeing of people.
Keynote speeches were delivered by Kamran Shez and Professor Omar Hasan Kasule on the topics: ‘Qur’an, Sunnah and Climate Crisis: From Theology to Action’.
