Nigerian Erosion & Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) visits AAUE for a closing out engagement with the University Community.

Sometime in 2015, the State government, under the able leadership of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, approved the reclamation of the gully erosion site in the University close to the Faculty of Environmental Studies. The gully erosion which had threatened the building and other near-by valuable structures for years was tackled by NEWMAP.

On Friday, 23rd September, 2022, the Commissioner for Environment & Sustainability, Engr. Jonathan Lawani, led the NEWMAP team to the Univeristy and the team was received by the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) on behalf of the Acting Vice-Chancellor. Engr. Lawani informed the University Management that his team, made up of the Managing Director of NEWMAP in Edo State, the Site Engineer and many staff of the Ministry, were in the University on the directive of the state governor to appreciate them for providing an enabling and peaceful environment for NEWMAP to operate while the project lasted. He stated that so many projects had been abandoned because of protests by host communities. He stated further that one of the major reasons for the visit was to seek the input of the University on the extent of work done in the reclamation project. He added that the activities of NEWMAP in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, is coming to an end and a date for its commissioning shall be announced in due course and details would be communicated to the University Management. The Commissioner gave a brief insight into the work done in curtailing the gully erosion that threatened the entire Faculty of Environmental Studies and other neighboring buildings. He advised the University Management to immediately begin to put modalities in place to develop a water storm project to help collect all the surface water in the entire university so as to avoid the development of another gully whose traces were already visible.

The ADVC (Admin) appreciated the Commissioner and the array of NEWMAP staff who accompanied him to the University. He appreciated the governor for approving the project which was aimed at helping to curb gully challenges in the University. However, the ADVC (Admin) through expert advice, informed the Commissioner and his team that the culvert that was constructed and aimed at directing the collected water to a destination is threatening the ENT building because the final destination of the collected water was not provided. Also, he informed the Commissioner that the project did not totally address the running surface water across the Faculty of Environmental Studies. He finally appealed to the Commissioner to assist the community look at the observed areas before commissioning.

High point of the engagement was an on-the-spot assessment of the observations made by the ADVC (Admin). Having completed the inspection tour, the Commissioner promised to intervene in the areas observed and also advised the University to immediately look at the possibility of commencing the water storm project. Also, a copy of the project design was officially handed over to the ADVC (Admin) by the Commissioner. The Commissioner, flanked by the Project Coordinator, Project Engineer and other staff, had a group photograph with the ADVC (Admin), Ag. Registrar, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Director,. ENT, Overseer, Works and Services Department and Overseer, Physical Planning Division.

Dcn. Comr. L. I. Isiraojie, MANUPA, AMNIM, MPAMD Administrative Officer, Information/Public Relations Division