Climate change has been described as the largest existential threat to humans on earth. Little wonder that the Ibadan Grammar School Old Students’ Association (IGSOSA), organisers of the ninh Venerable Emmanuel Alayande Memorial Distinguished Alumni Lecture chose ‘Climate change: Thinking globally, acting nationally’ as the title of the lecture.
Held on October 31 at the premises of Ibadan Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State, the event saw old boys and girls of the school gather in their numbers to honour the legacies of the late Emmanuel Alayande, the longest serving principal of the school, and an icon in education in Oyo State.
Venerable Alayande is the icon with which the alumni body has chosen to celebrate all the past principals and teachers of the school. Venerable Alayande was born in 1910. His father was a Muslim and his mother was a Sango worshipper. At birth, Emmanuel Alayande was named Gbadamosi. His parents had nine children, but only Emmanuel Alayande survived to adulthood. His mother eventually sent him to live with her brother, David Okesina (Uncle David). It was under Okesina’s care that he got converted to Christianity and Gbadamosi Oladipo Alayande became Emmanuel Oladipo Alayande.
Venerable Emmanuel Alayande was the Vice Principal of Ibadan Grammar School between 1947 and 1948 and then Principal from 1948 to 1968. He was responsible for building from scratch the present site and moving the school from Oke Are to Molete.
Activities of the day began with a plants and flowers fair on the school grounds. The fair witnessed a display of various indigenous and exotic ornamental plants that were also available for purchase. This was immediately followed by the lecture.
In his opening remarks before the lecture was delivered, National President of IGSOSA, Balogun Gaphar Ojetola, stated: “The title of this year’s lecture is quite germane to the present situation in our country and the world at large as it affects global warming.” He expressed his belief that participants at the event would be better informed so that they can “play their roles adequately in making a difference.”
Also speaking at the event was the chairman on the occasion, Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun, who said: “This is a worthwhile event, considering the stature of late Pa Alayande. We need to celebrate our icons. He was not only an icon in Ibadan Grammar School. He was an icon in the education sector in Nigeria.”
She added: “By now, we should all be aware that there is a climate crisis. As much as possible, we should do whatever we can as individuals and as a community to see that we do not continue to negatively impact on the climate. We should do the much that we can to slow it down.”
Delivering the lecture was Adedotun Adekile, a hydrologist and environmentalist is an old student of Ibadan Grammar School.
In his lecture, he stated that the drivers of climate change include industries, power generation, transportation, deforestation, bush burning and population growth. He, however, submitted that “the actual driver of climate change is overconsumption by the world’s wealthy middle classes.”
He added that the effects of climate change can be seen from rising sea levels that have led to flooding. He explained that according to NASA, global sea levels have already risen by over 10 cm between 1993 and 2024. “With the ice sheets at a tipping point of irreversible melting, it is currently expected that a sea level rise of 1- 2 meters is unavoidable. That being the case, many low lying coastal and riverine communities and cities are vulnerable to sea surges, flooding and some will eventually be submerged and disappear into the sea,” he stated.
Other effects of climate change, Adekile stated, are higher precipitation, droughts, loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, health risks and displacement.
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He said, “Climate change poses a significant threat to humanity, with widespread and severe consequences for people, the natural environment and the global economy. The impacts of climate change can be felt across the globe, threatening ecosystems, human settlements and infrastructure.
“Unfortunately, those who contribute least to climate change tend to be disproportionately at risk from its impacts. In Nigeria, the carbon footprint is low, yet the impact of the climate crises is huge.
“Mitigating the effects of the climate crises falls on the whole population, despite individuals in poor countries not being a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.”
The guest lecturer recommended that the “Federal Government of Nigeria has to be practical about the immediate implementation of the revised national population policy. Allowing the population to balloon to 400 million in the next 25 years will be disastrous.
“To improve adaptation to climate-related disasters in Nigeria, the states, especially those along the coastal areas and flood plains, must be included in a wider and structured plan for climate change adaptation in the country.
“The Great Green Wall Initiative must be adequately funded and supported and the Climate Change Act must be implemented. The Nigeria Climate Change Commission must be funded for an action plan to be implemented particularly for the fragile states in the country.
“Opinion leaders, climate activists and environmentalists must intensify dialogue with government to respond to the climate crisis and appreciate its urgency.”
