U6 to African leaders: Restrict human habitation in industrial areas

By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab

Ilorin

Researchers from a consortium of six African universities, popularly known as U6 initiative for Development, have asked heads of African governments to ensure restriction of human habitation in industrial areas to reduce the challenges of industrial pollution.
These formed parts of the recommendations reached at the end of the fifth edition of the U6 international conference of a consortium of Six Universities in Africa, hosted by the Kwara state University Malete, between October 29 and November 2, this year.
The consortium of universities (U6) are Kwara state University, Malete, University of Ilorin, Cape Peninsula University, South-Africa, Cape Coast University, Ghana , Detroit University, Kenya and University of Gambia, Gambia.
The conference observed that ‘‘although Africa has made progress in health care, there is need for African countries to focus on broad issues such as provision of portable water, better housing, and reduction of pollution among others to promote health rather than focusing on curative or sick care’’.
The conference recommendations were contained in a communiqué issued and signed by the chairman local organising committee, Prof Kazeem Gbolagade, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Ilorin yesterday.
The conference also urged African countries to tap the ample opportunities in the agricultural sector to alleviate poverty and improve food nutrition.
‘‘Agriculture has the greatest potential of alleviating poverty and improving the food and nutrition situation of vulnerable rural communities.
‘‘Achieving agricultural transformation for food security and sustainability is possible if African leaders demonstrate stronger leadership and accountability,” the conference observed.
As a way to facilitate the continent’s development, the communiqué added that “African countries should as a matter of urgency, improve the rate of literacy, build strong economies, and promote stable and sustainable democracies as these are indices of positive development.

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