The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in collaboration with the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) and other stakeholders have emphasised on the need to preserve Glacier in the world for environmental sustainability.
This was stated during the 2025 Engr Gbola Tokun Memorial World Water Day held at the NSE secretariat in Ibadan, in commemoration of the World Water Day.
Speaking, Manager, Eleyele Water Supply Scheme, Ibadan, Olusegun Akanmu, stated that “All hands must be on deck to prevent rapid melt down of glaciers, adding that the world will be threatened when there is a total meltdown of glaciers which can be caused by climatic change.”
Speaking on the theme “Glacier preservation: Examining the role of glaciers in Water Cycles and Resources,” Akanmu, who was the guest lecturer at the event, said glacier can be prevented by maintaining a green environment.
He added that failure to preserve glaciers which can be caused by an increase in temperature and change in wind pattern will threaten the world especially those in the coastal region.
Akanmu stressed the need for people living in the region where glaciers are available and those living in the region where it is not available to corporate with one another to prevent glaciers from melting down in a bid to prevent its effects on the climatic pattern of the global world.
“The role glaciers play in the availability of freshwater cannot be over emphasized, it produced 68.7 percent of global freshwater, and that is the more reason why we need to preserve them, though glaciers are not available in this part of the world, but available in Polar Regions and mountainous area.
“We all have a role to play in preventing glaciers from melting down in a bid to prevent its effects on the climatic pattern of the global world, glaciers when meltdown would increase the ocean volume while lives of people living in the coastal regions will be in danger. That is why it is very important for us to maintain a green environment,” he concluded.
Also speaking, the chairman, NIEE, Oyo State chapter, Kamorudeen Olaiya, stated that the topic is chosen having thought of the problem associated with water management in the country.
Olaiya added that though the country is not part of the regions with glaciers but needed to mitigate against meltdown of glaciers which can increase the water volume of the ocean thereby leading to flooding.
He further added that all must collaborate to mitigate against the meltdown of the glaciers which will have negative impacts on the country when happened.
Olaiya, however, advised Nigerians to put a stop to deforestation and replant trees when cut down so that the effect of global warming will not be perceived.
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Also speaking keynote speaker at the event, Adesoji Adeyemi, stated that as engineers there is need to come up with innovative solutions to keep carbon footprint in check.
“Because there is no glacier in this region, you might think that it does not affect us, but our activities here including, deforestation, burning can also lead to an increase in glacier level in the world, which will lead to a threat in human existence and rise in seawater level which will cause a lot of flood.
“We as engineers decided to come up with innovative solutions to keep our carbon footprint in check.”
In his remarks, the Chairman NSE Ibadan branch, Ibrahim Bello stated that the event is meant to bring professionals together to highlight critical role of glaciers in global fresh water systems and the need for sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change.
He emphasized that although Nigeria does not have glaciers, the impact of global retreat affects water cycles worldwide with far-reaching consequences on agriculture, rainfall patterns and water security.
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