- Nigeria Institute of Soil Science, NISS organized a workshop to intimate students on the dangers of soil degradation
- Participating secondary schools in Enugu North zone were taught on the job prospects on the study of Soil Science
- NISS Zonal director, Prof. Asadu encouraged students to delve into farming, Agriculture for sustainable food security
In the face of increasing rate of soil degradation, lack of knowledge of soil importance to the humanity, the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has organized a workshop to intimate students of secondary schools on the need to protect our soil.
The workshop which took place at the Soil Science Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka with the theme “Workshop on encouragement of soil science awareness at the college level in Nsukka, Eastern Nigeria”, was also aimed at encouraging secondary school students to study Soil Science and other related Agriculture courses in the university.
The Coordinator, South-East zone of the Institute, Prof. Charles Asadu in his opening remarks during the workshop explained that there is need to know the importance of man’s roles in preserving soil.
According to Prof. Asadu, ” if we destroy our soil, we have destroyed ourselves. There is need for us to know that whatever we do, have either positive or negative effects on our soil.”
In his speech lecture, one of the resource persons in the workshop Prof. S. Obalum explained that ” the roles of the physical nature of soils in shaping their use and management in especially agricultural production has been relegated to the background. The sub- discipline of soil physics came to the limelight after re-orientation about a century ago.”
Narrating further, Prof. Obalum that ” in view of this intricate relationship between soil and water, on one hand, and between soil and the rest of the ecosystem, on the other, understanding soil hydrology is critical for the beneficial use of the soil mainly for food production.”
However, in a chat with WITHIN NIGERIA, the organizer of the workshop, Prof. Charles Asadu stressed that “it is a workshop on the encouragement of students at the college level to know about soil science and what soil science is all about. It is a follow-up of earlier workshops which we went round the schools to educate them on the job opportunities on the study of soil science.”
On the need for the sensitization, Prof. Asadu explained that ” sensitization is very important to us especially in Nigeria because people don’t understand what soil science is all about and the relevance of soil science in the society. You know without soil there is no society. We cannot toil with soil. Anybody who toils with soil, toils with life.”
Narrating further, he said that “we have give them support financially. We are going to give them sweet potatoes. They are going to have garden where they practice a these things. By November, they will be able to harvest what they planted.”
On the sustainability of the program, Prof. Asadu said that the program is done in all the five states of the South East zone. “So, it is not something that starts and ends here. It is across south East zone and all other geopolitical zones in the country.”
On who sponsored the program, Prof. Asadu explained that “I must say the International Union of Soil Sciences, IUSS sponsored or I should say they promised, it is like giving us a promising note, that they will help us to offset what we are spending.
“What I am spending here today is from my pocket. Because of should I say my interest in contributing to soil development. They said that when we present good report about the program, they will refund us. So, with that encouragement, I am looking for money everywhere to be able to sponsor the program till the end.”
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the participating students are drawn from schools like Community Secondary school, Nru Nsukka, Community secondary school, Alor-Uno, Nsukka, Hillview secondary school, Nsukka and Nsukka High School, Nsukka all in Nsukka local government areas of Enugu state.
In a chat with our reporter, one of the students from Community secondary school Nru who gave his name as Ameh Soromtochukwu Kingsley expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the program.
According to him, the workshop has enabled him to understand what soil science is all about with a view to making maximum and better use of soil.
Asked if he will study science in the university, Master Ameh as answered in the positive, saying that that will give him more opportunities to knowing more about soil science and what it is a about.
Another participant from Community secondary school Alor-Uno, Miss Chidebere Ukweze our reporter that ” I am so happy to be here today. I learnt so many things today. I learnt that soil is very important to life and that without soil you can do nothing. I also learnt that if you destroy soil, you are destroying life. I am going to study Soil Science because I have seen so many importance of soil to our life.”
A student of Hillview Unique Secondary school, Master Emmanuel Onugu also told our reporter that he was happy to be part of the program.
According to him, he has learnt so many things during the workshop which he will share with his friends and classmates in school.
Mr. Onugu further stated that though he will not make Soil Science as his first choice in his course of study during UTME, he will choose the course if he couldn’t get his first choice course.
WITHIN NIGERIA equally gathered that students were also intimated on the prospects of job opportunities in Soil Science studies to include, working as environmentalist in companies, and many others.
The high points of the workshop was the exhibition of some soil products, distribution of school bags to the students and opening of savings account to the students by a Microfinance bank in the area.