By Emmanuel Enebeli
WARRI/Nigeria: The Association of Ndokwa Professionals in Academia (ANPA) has stressed the urgent need to integrate environmental education into community development strategies in Ndokwa land, warning that failure to address environmental challenges could worsen climate impacts and undermine sustainable growth.
The call was made by Professor Harrison Atagana during ANPA’s monthly Lecture Series held via Zoom on Sunday, March 15, 2026, where he delivered a lecture titled “The Need for Environmental Education as an Essential Component of the Developmental Process in Ndokwa Communities.”
The lecture session, hosted by Professor Julie Umukoro and anchored by Ruth Epochi-Olise and Rosel Etuwe, brought together Ndokwa scholars, professionals, and community stakeholders from Nigeria and the diaspora to discuss the role of environmental awareness in shaping the future of rural communities.
Speaking during the session, Prof. Atagana warned that communities often contribute unknowingly to environmental degradation, noting that the consequences of climate change are already evident through shifting rainfall patterns, extreme weather conditions, and declining agricultural productivity.
According to him, farming activities, which depend heavily on predictable rainfall and temperature cycles, are increasingly being disrupted as climate patterns become unstable.
“At the end of the day, we complain about climate change, yet many of the challenges we face are problems we created ourselves. That is why environmental education is extremely important,” he said.
He explained that environmental education provides communities with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed to manage natural resources responsibly and make informed decisions about development.
The professor also raised concerns about environmental challenges emerging in parts of Ndokwa land, including possible acid rain effects in some communities where high temperatures and industrial emissions may be contributing to corrosion of roofing sheets and property damage.
While acknowledging ongoing development efforts across many communities, Atagana emphasized that industrial activities must be carefully managed to avoid long-term environmental consequences.
He noted that environmental education should not be limited to academic institutions but must extend to communities where everyday environmental decisions are made.
According to him, environmental awareness should be promoted through community meetings, family discussions, local workshops, and village development initiatives.
He recalled that in the past, traditional community structures such as age-grade systems helped maintain environmental discipline through activities like clearing waterways, maintaining access roads to farms and streams, and managing communal resources.
“These traditional environmental management systems helped communities maintain balance with nature, but many of those practices have gradually disappeared,” he observed.
Prof. Atagana also highlighted the economic potential of eco-tourism in Ndokwa communities, citing the source of the Ethiope River at Umuaja as a natural attraction that could be developed into a major tourism destination if properly managed.
He noted that the site, which once attracted visitors fascinated by the natural emergence of the river, could generate significant economic benefits if government and community leaders invest in developing it as an eco-tourism centre.
“Our communities have natural resources that could attract visitors for recreation, research, and tourism, but because we lack environmental awareness and proper planning, we are not taking advantage of them,” he said.
The don further identified waste management as another critical environmental challenge facing many communities, particularly the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste.
He warned that plastic pollution has become a global menace and called for innovative community-based recycling initiatives that could convert waste into economic opportunities.
According to him, some countries have successfully reduced plastic pollution by establishing systems where plastics and glass are separated and sold to recycling companies.
“If people can make money from plastic waste, the amount of plastic littering our communities will reduce drastically,” he said.
Atagana also advocated for sustainable agricultural practices such as organic farming, agroforestry, and soil management strategies that improve productivity without degrading the environment.
He stressed the importance of involving agricultural extension officers in educating farmers on soil health management and sustainable farming techniques.
During the interactive session that followed the lecture, participants raised questions on issues such as plastic waste management, land use planning, gas flaring, and the role of communities in ensuring government accountability on environmental matters.
Responding to questions, the professor said communities must play a more active role in advocating for environmental protection by engaging local governments and relevant authorities.
According to him, environmental awareness at the grassroots level will empower communities to demand better policies, improved waste management systems, and stricter environmental regulation of industrial activities.
He also emphasized that local governments have the authority to regulate land use, create access roads in developing areas, and enforce environmental standards, but noted that implementation of policies often remains the biggest challenge.
“Our communities must begin to speak up and hold institutions accountable. Environmental protection is not only the responsibility of government; communities must also take ownership of the process,” he said.
Prof. Atagana concluded by urging Ndokwa communities to adopt strategic environmental planning as they pursue development projects, stressing that understanding environmental impacts will help prevent future ecological problems.
The ANPA Lecture Series continues to serve as a platform for intellectual engagement among Ndokwa professionals and scholars, focusing on issues affecting the socio-economic and environmental development of Ndokwa communities.
The session was coordinated by, Chief Sam Enudi, based in New York, United States.
