A Professor of Wildlife and Environmental Health and Biodiversity Conservation at the University of Ibadan, Professor Abosede Olayemi Omonona, has identified environmental contamination as one of the most devastating ecological crises facing the world.
She made the statement while delivering the 588th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan on behalf of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources.
The title of the lecture was: “Footprints on Track: Echoes from the Wild”.
Professor Omonona noted that environmental contamination is more prevalent and critical in developing countries, considering the huge amounts of pollution that emanate from anthropogenic activities.
The lecturer expressed concern that the impact of contamination, particularly from industrial wastes and automobile exhausts within the environment (aquatic and terrestrial), has reached a high level.
She said that environmental contaminants have been a threat to the ecosystem health due to their relatively high concentration and ability to bioaccumulate and be biomagnified within the biota.
She described heavy metals as environmental contaminants, stating that any metallic element that has a relatively high density and may be toxic even at low concentration falls into this category.
She also stated that pesticides, which include a wide range of chemical compounds designed for the management of agricultural pests and enhancement of crop yields, could also be contaminants saying that their residues and potential for bioaccumulation in organisms have made many of them to be banned, as they could pose significant health risks to humans, wildlife, and ecosystem if not regulated.
Professor Omonona asserted that the consequences of exposure to pesticide mixtures on wildlife species are of critical concern since most of these species are not only bioindicators of environmental health but also hold essential ecological value within their ecosystems.
She stressed that humans and animals share the same ecosystem and infectious parasitic and pathogens diseases
that threaten the existence of wild animals have evolved over time with both the animal and human population at risk.
She explained that the interaction of wildlife and humans serve as an interface for disease transmission, submitting that anthropogenic activities and human desire for bush meat for economic gains and dependence on zootherapy for medicinal purposes are major contributory factors to this transmission.
She decried the cross-border acquisition of wildlife stock, which enhances the transboundary spread of diseases since wild life has historically been a critical source of infectious diseases transmissible to humans.
Professor Omonona charged the government to take necessary actions to strengthen and enforce structures that will safeguard the country’s natural resources and check wildlife trafficking in Nigeria.
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She advocated the eradication of terrorism and insecurity, urging the government to intensify efforts in securing protected areas while ensuring the safety of both wildlife and conservation personnel.
The Don also called for the education of community dwellers, hunters, food vendors, and wildlife traders through awareness campaigns to empower them to take necessary precautions in safeguarding both human and animal health.
She recommended that there should be collaboration between veterinary, wildlife, and public health authorities to address the interconnected issues of wildlife utilization and disease transmission.
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Professor Omonona advised the government to prioritize the protection of flora and fauna in forests, especially protected areas, adopting a proactive approach to conservation and ecotourism development, which will safeguard Nigeria’s natural heritage while fostering economic growth.
The Inaugural Lecture was the eleventh in the series for the 2024/2025 academic session.
