The Vice-Chancellor of Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa, Prof. Dileep Kumar, has emphasized the importance of mangrove restoration as a vital strategy for addressing climate action and environmental recovery in Nigeria.
He made this known on Saturday during a workshop titled “Capacity Building Training for Community Women and Youth on Mangroves Restoration.”
Prof. Kumar, who was represented by Prof. Femi Shaka, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, applauded the efforts of the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet), the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), local community leaders, the women of Toru-Orua, Hensard University students, and climate advocates for organizing the initiative.
Prof. Dileep Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Hensard University, stated that the capacity building workshop on mangrove restoration was designed to create meaningful opportunities for participants, emphasizing that education goes beyond simply acquiring knowledge.
He explained that the workshop aimed to drive real impact by inspiring a collective movement. According to him, its primary objective was to equip women and youth with the necessary skills to restore degraded mangrove ecosystems.
“The journey toward environmental responsibility is not marked by grand gestures, but by consistent, often unnoticed acts of care,” he noted.
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Aduabobo Ibitoru-Hart, a board member of the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet), represented by the Bayelsa State Coordinator, Mr. Patrick Amaibi, highlighted the importance of mangroves in strengthening coastal resilience.
He described mangroves as natural protectors against erosion, vital for biodiversity conservation, and essential in the fight against climate change. However, he pointed out that these ecosystems are under serious threat due to deforestation and unsustainable human activities.
He praised the partnership among Hensard University, CSDevNet, and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), describing it as a significant move toward reversing environmental degradation.
“Our target is to train 100 individuals—30 women and 70 students—in practical mangrove restoration methods, promoting environmental responsibility and sustainable sources of livelihood,” he said.
He added that prioritizing women in the training reflects a commitment to gender equality, acknowledging their essential role in environmental conservation and community development.
The project, he said, aligns with Nigeria’s national climate goals and supports the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
He expressed confidence that the initiative could lead to the restoration of a pilot mangrove site, the creation of a local action plan, and the establishment of long-term restoration strategies.
In his contribution, Mr. Stephen Abu, National Coordinator of CSDevNet, emphasized that climate change remains a pressing issue in Nigeria and must be addressed urgently.
He noted that tree planting remains a practical step toward climate mitigation and that behavioral change plays a \crucial role in environmental recovery by encouraging practices that contribute to ecosystem restoration.
