By Harriet Ijeomah June 6, 2025
Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, joined the global community on Wednesday, June 5, to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day with a public forum themed “Ending Plastic Pollution Globally.” The university community, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. U.U. Chukwumaeze (SAN), came together with scholars, students, environmental advocates, and professionals to examine the growing environmental threats in the state—particularly those posed by plastic pollution and climate change.
Addressing attendees at the event held at the university’s auditorium, Prof. Chukwumaeze emphasized the urgent need to protect and sustain the environment for future generations. Drawing from Genesis 2:15, he reminded participants of the biblical call to care for the earth, stressing that neglecting the environment is a moral and existential failure. “We will not secure the freedom we desire for ourselves if we neglect the welfare of the environment,” he said. He added that the university’s commitment to excellence extends beyond academics to action on the Sustainable Development Goals. He also paid tribute to the university’s history of environmental leadership through scholars like the late Prof. Uzo M. Igbozurike and Prof. Enoch E. Okpara, who led pioneering ecological research and advocacy in Nigeria. “Imo State University is no stranger to environmental discourse and activism. Our duty today is to build on that legacy,” he said.
The keynote speaker, environmental lawyer and regional advocacy lead for the Climate and Sustainable Development Network, Mr. June Nnamdi Nwakanma, warned that Nigeria is facing a plastic waste emergency. Citing data from the Plastic Atlas 2024, he revealed that Nigeria ranks as the second worst country in the world for plastic pollution, only behind India. “Nigeria may not be the top generator of plastic waste globally, but when it comes to how badly we manage it, we are number two. That is not a statistic we should be proud of,” Mr. Nwakanma said. He called for stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, investment in waste management infrastructure, and awareness campaigns targeting young people and market users. “Plastic pollution is both a governance issue and a behavioral issue. We need laws, and we need citizens’ action.”
He pointed out that millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, choking aquatic life and entering the food chain. “Plastics never truly disappear; they break down into microplastics, which we now find in our food, water, and even in human bloodstreams,” he said. He urged the government to strengthen the implementation of existing environmental laws and empower agencies such as the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to carry out their duties without interference.
Present at the event were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Opara; Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Patrick Duru; Dean of Law Faculty, Prof. Julie Nwogwugwu; Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Okey Ezeabasili; Head of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Prof. Nneka Okonkwo; and members of the IMSU Environmental Society. Also in attendance were representatives of the Imo State Ministry of Environment, staff from the National Orientation Agency, and students from the university’s Faculty of Social Sciences, Law, and Environmental Sciences.
Imo State is among Nigeria’s most environmentally vulnerable states, with recurring floods, gully erosion, and worsening land degradation. A 2023 report by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) revealed that the state has experienced a 15% rise in annual rainfall over the past decade, increasing the frequency of floods and crop loss. The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) also estimates that the state has over 360 active gully erosion sites, a situation that displaces families and threatens infrastructure annually. Oil-producing communities such as Ohaji-Egbema continue to grapple with the long-term consequences of oil spills and land contamination, leading to food insecurity and water pollution. In rural farming communities like Oguta, Orsu, Ideato North, and Isiala Mbano, the impacts of climate change are becoming more visible with falling crop yields and shrinking sources of clean water, affecting mostly women and children.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Duru noted that the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, which houses eight academic departments, is well-positioned to drive innovation and community-based environmental solutions. He stressed that academic institutions must become more practical in their approach to environmental education. “We cannot teach theory alone. We must act, research, and collaborate. That is why we are leading by example, with our students cleaning up plastic waste around the university premises today,” he said.
Participants concluded the event with a collective call to action, urging the federal and state governments to invest more in climate adaptation strategies, review outdated environmental laws, and support youth-led environmental initiatives. Many agreed that ending plastic pollution requires both institutional will and individual responsibility. “The climate crisis is no longer distant—it is local, it is visible, and it is dangerous. If we do not act now, we will lose more than just our ecosystems; we will lose our future,” said Prof. Chukwumaeze in his closing remarks.
World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5 since 1973, is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action to protect the environment. This year’s theme focuses on plastic pollution, urging governments and individuals to reduce single-use plastics and transition to a more sustainable, circular economy.
