By Tony Edike

ENUGU — SCIENTISTS working on a trans-disciplinary platform have raised an alarm over the devastating effects of the growing scourge of climate change in Africa, especially in Nigeria.

The experts who spoke at a symposium on climate change adaptation strategies held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka,UNN, painted a gloomy picture of the future of the continent if immediate measures devoid of the disease of corruption, are not applied to effectively contain the disasters associated with the climate change.

They warned that if not checked, the global scourge would continue to ruin food security while exerting a devastating attack on public health with the over 70 percent of the populace that inhabits the rural communities being the worst-hit by the menace.

The event was organized by the UNN committee on climate change in conjunction with the Nairobi-based African Technology Policy Studies Network and the Open Society Foundations of U.S.A.

Coordinator of the programme in the university, Prof. Michael Madukwe told reporters that baring any unforeseen hitch, the institution would start offering degrees in Climate Change in the next 12 months in response to demands by participants that studies on the climate change be included in the curricula of high schools and tertiary institutions in the continent.

Scores of experts that gathered at Princess Alexandria Auditorium of the institution spoke agitatedly on the ravaging effects of climate change, lamenting that while the rest of the world have been making visible arrangements to contain the development through sustainable approaches, the story appears different in the continent.

In his lead-lecture, Prof. Theo Davies, an international Environmental Geologist based in South Africa stated that “it is important in Africa to adapt to climate change now and prepare for disasters which will certainly come and have already come in certain locations”.