The vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ahmad Adamu, has called on Nigerians to manage the country’s natural resources responsibly, drawing inspiration from the Bible and the Qur’an.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Nathaniel Atebije Foundation, a non-governmental organisation focused on sustainable development and urban planning, Professor Adamu delivered a lecture titled “Sustainable Development and Divine Mandate: The Role of Faith in Natural Resource Management” in Abuja yesterday.
“Nigeria is endowed with fertile land, rich minerals, and abundant water,” he said.
“Yet, poor management, waste, and environmental degradation have hindered our progress.”
Professor Adamu stressed that both religious texts advocate for responsible stewardship of the earth, urging religious and community leaders to educate followers on environmental conservation.
“The scriptures teach that the earth is a trust from God, and wastefulness, pollution, and reckless exploitation contradict these principles,” he said.
He called on the government to implement eco-friendly policies and urged research institutions and town planners to innovate in resource management to achieve sustainable development.
At the event, veteran town planner and foundation convener Nathaniel Atebije highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of urban and regional planning laws.
“Unplanned development is unsustainable and illegal,” he said, noting that Nigeria’s Urban and Regional Planning Law, enacted in 1992 and amended in 2004, remains poorly implemented.
National president of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Dr Ogbonna Chime, also praised Atebije’s efforts and called for collective action to raise environmental awareness, describing it as critical to Nigeria’s long-term development.
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