The Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies and ECOMSA (Environmental Control and Management Students Association) of Obafemi Awolowo University celebrated World Environment Day 2024 with a series of events from June 3 to June 5, 2024.

The event started with a follow-up to the workshop on the deployment of IoT-based Real-time Surface Water Pollution Monitoring Sensors in Southwestern Nigeria, organized by the Solid Waste, Wastewater, and Environmental Chemistry (SwWECh) unit of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies. The workshop also included the installation of IoT sensors at the Opa dam of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in February 2024.

The celebration of the Environment Day 2024 included events such as a training session on IoT-based data handling and sensor calibration, led by Professor Clement Onime from Italy. The program attracted postgraduate students, alumni, and undergraduate students from relevant departments in the Faculty of Science, fostering opportunities for research networking and future collaborations.

The director of the institute, Professor (Mrs) A. A. Okoya, appreciated the resource person, Professor Onime, and the visiting alumni, Professor J. Oluwole Olowoyo from the United States of America, Dr. A. B. Akinyele from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State and the associate lecturer to the Institute from Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife namely: Prof O.O. I. Orimoogunje.along with the core staff of the Institute in persons of Prof. O. O. Awotoye and Dr. A. T. Oyewale who is also the students’ staff adviser in attendance.  She  thanked them for their contributions to the success of the program and the progress of the institute.

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day was “land Restoration desertification and drought resilience, with the slogan, “Our Land, Our future”. This slogan was captured throughout the two-day events highlighting the risk posed to health and wealth through the pollution of water bodies.

The program featured a quiz competition with monetary gift (sponsored by an alumnus) and certificates presented to the following winners namely: Okeleye Samson Opeyemi, the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies (1st position), Ojo Israel, Zoology Department (2nd position) and Ayoola Rodiyyah, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies (3rd position).  Indoor games, research networking also added glamour to the event.