By Churchill Okonkwo
 Published
July 4th, 2008
Realistic visions and concepts of effective program for
erosion control sometimes exist, but much needed
implementation most times fails. This program has the key
objective of identifying those projects with the real
potential to be of strategic importance in erosion control
in Nigeria. By providing technical and other forms of
support, Environmental Control Program will seek to overcome
the barriers and will help practical erosion control
measures become commonplace in SE Nigeria.
There are a number of questions that are important for
understanding this program sustainability. These include: Is
the program meeting its original goals? Is the program
maintaining or expanding rather than reducing efforts to
meet its goals? Does the program have secure future funding?
Sustainability
There are a number of factors that will facilitate program
sustainability and they include: Program flexibility,
adequate and qualified staff, collaboration within
communities and involvement by the communities, adequate and
long-term funding, and the ability to demonstrate impact.
Projects supported must be innovative, sustainable and can
be replicated in other parts of the world. They have to be
in a state ready for implementation and a well-developed
implementation strategy must exist.
The sustainability of the impact also lies in the
institutional arrangements which have to be created and
established by the program. These include the signing of
social contracts between key groups of actors, the
establishment of a Council of Integration for participatory
decision-making, and the active involvement and networking
between communities, technical schools and institutes,
vocational training centres and universities.
Ensuring a lasting impact of the program through the
documentation and dissemination of information to local
authorities, schools, state governments, community-based
organizations and activist groups should be paramount. This
is a definite opportunity over the next 5 - 10 years.
Publications from previous research that is currently paper
based will need to be converted to electronic format. Data
conversion can range from converting paper based information
to electronic form, through the internet.
This information should cover key aspects of erosion control
measures, job creation and revenue generation, environmental
protection and most importantly a hot line for raising alarm
on existing sheet erosion sites before it develops to gully
erosion. It should also provide an up-to-date source of
information which can be used for training, education,
policy development and awareness-building.
What happens to the ecological fund?
The most difficult part of this piece was figuring out what
to do with the ecological fund from the federation account.
The past three decades has shown that no government agency
or ministry can be trusted with public funds and to
effectively perform its civic duties (except NAFDAC). The
endemic corruption and corrupt practices in the system is so
critical that any citizen looking up to government for
service and discharge of their civic responsibilities needs
a psychiatrics. I however still believe that the states
should develop a working model on how ecological funds would
best benefit the communities, academia, students and help in
the socio-economic development of the states.
This entrepreneurial energy needed in the next ecological
challenge of sustainability, clean energy and environment is
made to be fed by a renowned community of researchers and
technology professionals from the universities and
polytechnics. Unfortunately, South Eastern Universities has
the lowest level of per capita spending on research and
development. With a total absence of coordinated research
programs to provide a significant support to entrepreneurs
in the major cities of Nnewi, Awka, Aba, Enugu, Umuahia,
Abakaliki, Owerri and across the region. This research
capacity should be the infrastructure on which technology
economy is built.
The state governments must encourage joint partnership in
Research & Development (R&D) to grow and develop in our
states. Using tools such as specialized facilities and
matching research funds, specialized education and workforce
program, and strategic recruitment and marketing, they
should make the region synonymous with the erosion control
and by extension industries of the future such as clean
energy, biotechnology, and value added agriculture. These
R&D investments should be targeted to specific areas of
growth that have lacked the needed investment that would
establish the sate as champions in regional and national
economic development.
The bond proposals and future commitments made by government
in R&D are critical for our overall strategy of diversifying
our economy to accommodate the needs of the 21st century and
so that young people will have more opportunities.
This future will be built on a solid foundation of energy,
water, proper solid waste disposal and management and
transportation resources that the developing businesses in
the region must have to survive. They should safeguard the
future by building a solid developmental foundation for the
states and protecting the natural assets and environment
that will make South Eastern Nigeria a great place to live,
work, and raise a family.
Vision
South Eastern Nigeria should become the center for growth in
programs that will proffer control measures to ecological
degradation in Nigeria. Erosion Control Centres (ECC) -
where partnership leads to success - will strive to find the
best materials and construction types to ensure an
ecologically friendly control measures to soil degradation.
Corporate organizations and NGOs should maximize their
competitiveness by creating the most productive social
responsibility program and applying the most advanced
technologies and workforce available towards touching the
lives of real people in the region. The bottom-line talk
like sustainable solution should denote the new attitude
towards corporate social responsibility. It will be good if
the program in whatever form it takes develops to meet the
needs of the poor. That is the most sustainable solution.
Finally, all of the South Eastern states and communities
directly affected must share in the prosperity that will
replace the current hopelessness in the battle to control
erosion menace.
Churchill.okonkwo@gmail.com
 Churchill Okonkwo
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