Group advances new perspective on global issues

STAKEHOLDERS in education sector has called for new perspectives in confronting emerging global issues in the country.
Addressing participants at the fifth Professor Fidelis Uzochukwu Okafor Annual International Conference in Awka, Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi said that global issues abound, each in its range of severity as it affects plant, human life and environment.
Igwe Iweka maintained that diverse phenomena had continued to emerge in social and natural forms for ages past. Some debilitating global issues like war, religious crisis, increasing industrialisation, explosive urban population and lack of control, poverty and hunger, ethnic cleansing, unchecked dumping of waste, ocean acidification and genocide had lived with human for millenniums but climate change poses the biggest threat to humanity.
According to him , Climate change had emerged the most serious issue affecting the world.
“It was in the 19th century, precisely in the late 1800s that scientist first argued that emissions of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane could drastically affect the climate. He however, urged government to treat climate change as a priority.
” Concerned that certain human activities could change global climate patterns threatening present and future generations within potentially severe economic and social consequences… Concerned also that emissions of certain substances are depleting the ozone layer and thereby exposing the earth’s surface to increased
ultraviolet radiation which may pose threat to human health, agriculture productivity and animal and marine life”.
In his paper presentation, Dr. Christopher Kalu stated that global issues affected everyone in the society. He highlighted poverty, inequality, corruption and crime, illegal migration, poor educational system, climate change, expensive political system, health challenges amongst others, as key issues limiting Africa.
In his remark, the past Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Fidelis Okafor said the conference was an intellectual gathering of academic scholars from different parts of the world to proffer solution to emerging global issues pertaining to humanity and sciences and Africa at large.
The professor appreciated the organisers of the event for conceiving the idea to explore significant and controversial topics as essential precondition to fulfilling the academia’s mission of educating students and advancing knowledge.
The conference, organised by the Literati Philosophia Association in conjunction with Eastern Nigeria Writers Forum, which had as its theme: Humanities and Sciences: In the Search For New Perspectives In Confronting Emerging Global Issues, featured investiture of Prof. Okafor as distinguished man of the year and recipient of Nelson Mandela Leadership Award of Educational Development.
In attendance were prominent dignitaries, traditional rulers, representatives from ECOWAS Youth Counci,l Amb. Epah Pablo, Cote d’ Ivoire, Amb. Mam Mam Sowe, Gambia, former speaker, Chinwe Nwaebili, Igwe Azuka Ngonadi of Atani, the convener, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, Corps Commander Sunday Ajayi, Rev. Father Ositadimma Amakeze and Sir Chukwuma Ebube Jackson.