By Ochuko Akuopha

OLEH—A develop-mental economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has warned that cases of cancer would be on the increase in the Niger Delta if the ongoing environmental degradation arising from gas flaring in the region remains unchecked.

Utomi, who gave the warning in his keynote address at the 2nd mid-year national conference of the Women’s Wing of the  Isoko Development Union, IDU, with the theme, Building Healthy People and Healthy Planet, said: “History will not treat us kindly if we fail to show concern about the environment.”

Reiterating that a healthy environment was a heritage from “our fathers” he said, “Sadly, we may not be able to bequeath same to our children because of the activities of oil majors and our poor attitude to environmental issues.”

PAT UTOMI

Emphasizing the need for women empowerment through proper education, he said that there was no challenge that cannot be overcome by women, “because they have the milk of human kindness, therefore, they are critical to development and if well educated, they can trigger development when they apply their natural strength.”

Noting that women are closer to the environment as caregivers, he argued that if women are well equipped with knowledge on the impact of the environment to development, they will be properly guided to take actions that will mitigate environmental challenges in the future.

He lamented the high level of poverty occasioned by failure of leadership, noting  that the starting point in escaping from poverty was proper education for children and women, who are a very important factor in the education of the children, especially in their moral up brining.

Earlier, in her remarks, President of IDU, Women’s Wing Mrs.Caroline Usikpedo-Omoniye, called for 50/50 affirmative action on women participation in governance, noting that if implemented, it will boost development and also empower the womenfolk.