Vice-Chancellor, Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, Prof. Dileep Kumar, has advocated mangroves restoration to propagate climate action in Nigeria.
Kumar said this on Saturday, May 17, 2025, during a workshop tagged: “Capacity Building Training for Community Women and Youth on Mangroves Restoration”.
He commended the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), community leaders, women of Toru-Orua, students of Hensard University, and climate advocates for the workshop.
The vice chancellor was represented at the event by Prof. Femi Shaka, Dean, Communication and Media Studies, Hensard University.
“This capacity building workshop on Mangrove Restoration was organised with the hope that we can open new doors of opportunity to our participants.
“Education is more than just the acquisition of information,” he said.
According to him, there is an intention to make a real difference by harnessing a movement.
Kumar said the objectives of the workshop was to give opportunity to a number of women and youths with the skill to restore the mangroves.
He said: “The path to environmental stewardship is paved not with grandeur, but with silent, mundane acts of care.”
In his remarks, Prof. Aduabobo Ibitoru-Hart, Board Member, CSDevNet, represented by Mr. Patrick Amaibi, state coordinator CSDevNet, said mangroves were the backbone of the coastal resilience.
“Mangroves shield humans from erosion, nurturing biodiversity, and combating climate change.
“Yet, humans face relentless threats from deforestation and unsustainable practices, ” he said.
He described the collaboration between Hensard University, CSDevNet, and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, as a bold step toward reversing the loss.
“Our goal is to train 100 participants; 30 women and 70 students in mangrove restoration techniques, fostering environmental stewardship and sustainable livelihoods.
“By focusing on women, we champion gender equity, recognizing their critical role in conservation and community resilience,” he said.
According to him, the initiative aligned with Nigeria’s climate goals and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 on Climate Action and SDG 5 on Gender Equality.
“We can restore a pilot mangrove site, develop a community action plan, and lay the foundation for ongoing restoration efforts,” he said.
Mr. Stephen Abu, National Coordinator, CSDevNet, said that Nigeria was still faced with the issue of climate change, which must be addressed.
He said that planting of trees was still another good way to tackle climate action on the part of human beings.
He said that behavioral change could also rescue the impact of climate change, by doing things that would help restore the immediate environment.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Mary Domotimi, a student of the university, commended the organisers for the training.
High point of the event was the planting of trees in the campus by the students, lecturers, and the organisers of the workshop.
By Shedrack Frank