Cross River State has been described as an environmental-friendly State, which is determined to protect and project its clean and green posture through the planting of trees to regulate global system, especially now that it has been ascertained that the State is among the few biodiversity hot spots in the world.
Head of Service, Ntunkae (Mrs.) Mary-Theresa Ikwen, mni, stated this when she granted audience to the Executives of the Environmental Management Association of Nigeria in her office in Calabar.
She maintained that a healthy environment was an asset to the society, adding that when an environment is not protected, it has negative implication on the life of the people, especially in the area of wind storms, soil erosion and flood disasters.
The Head of Service therefore, assured that Government in recognition of such ugly trend, would do everything possible to support any policy that would protect the environment at all times.
She assured of the needed support from the Ministry of Environment, which supervises environmental matters, stressing that, "there is no way we can have the Ministry of Environment without supporting its operations".
The Head of Service said that now that the service was being streamlined, professionals in the Ministry were bound to belong to the appropriate areas of their specialization in the scheme of things, adding that the future of professionals in environmental matters was bright, especially now that the Cross River University of Technology had developed environmental studies in its curriculum.
She described the visit as timely, as, "it will enable them join other States in carrying out various pronouncements on environment matters from the Federal level" and assured of assisting to sensitize the people on causes of environment hazards.
Ntunkae (Mrs.) Ikwen, expressed delight that the Waste Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment, was determined to re-circle waste, thereby, enhancing the quest for the transformation of waste, to wealth among the people of the State.
Earlier in his address, the President of the Environmental Management Association of Nigeria, Arch. Emmanuel Ating, (KSJ), disclosed that the Environmental Management Association of Nigeria, was established in 1996 with the Board of Trustees incorporated on the 18th of November, 1999.
The Objectives of the Association, according to its President, were, the advancement of public awareness on the importance of sustainable Human Development, the advancement of environmental management in Nigeria through education, training research and practice, as well as the dissemination of environmental management information through conferences, workshops, seminars, meetings, exhibition and publications.
He appealed to the Head of Service to direct appropriate Government agencies to implement the approved scheme of service for Environmental Managers, referred to as Environmental Management Officers cadre, which was approved by the National Council on Establishment at its 31st meeting held in Asaba, Delta State.
Arch. Atiang lauded the Head of Service for granting them the audience, which he hoped would address environmental related problems in the State.
Environmental-Friendly is even an understatement if u ask me. It's more than that