The Rivers State Government  has pledged to put in place measures that will help the state to preserve its natural resources from extinction and curb food wastage.

The Commissioner for Empowerment and Employment Generation, Dr Ipalibo Harry said this while declaring open a three-day seminar on the environment, orgainsed by the  African Centre for Environmental Protection (ACEP) in conjunction with the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority in Port Harcourt.

Dr Harry described the environment as very critical to human survival, noting that the government was working hard to ensure that the  environment was preserved for future generations.

He described as apt, the theme of this year’s World Environment Day celebration, which is ‘ Think, Eat and Save”, explaining that it was a lesson to people to think before they harvest, transport as well as eat.

In a similar development, the state government has said that it is mounting campaign to check food wastages by pupils and students in schools.

Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence –Nemi, said this during the second day of the seminar, noting that the theme of the celebration was designed to enable people fashion ways to check food wastages.

Dame  Lawrence-Nemi reeled out statistics from the  United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to buttress the importance of the campaign.

According to her, given the high rate of poverty in our country, there was need for an urgent call for the eradication of wastages of food in our society.

She also said that, given the enormous imbalance in lifestyles and the resultant devastating effects in the environment, “this year’s theme encourages you to become more aware of the environmental impact of food choices you make and empowers you to make informed decisions”.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Clement Agba, yesterday said that over 1.3billion tons of food produced annually in sub-Saharan Africa was wasted.

Agba stated this during the 2013 World Environment Day in Benin, adding that the impact of food wastage had many consequences which went beyond financial.

“If food is wasted it means that all resources and inputs used in the production of all the food are also lost.

“For example, it takes 1,000 litres of water to produce a litre of milk.

“The resulting greenhouse gas emissions from the cows and throughout the food supply chain, all end up in vain when we waste food,” he added

Meanwhile,Rivers State Government will soon commence the construction of a school for students with special needs at the Greater Port Harcourt City.

This is coming one year after Governor Chibuike Amaechi ordered the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation to liase with the Ministry of Education to relocate the school from its former site in old township area due to lack of space and facilities.

Speaking to newsmen after the official handover of the site between Kpondo and Aluu communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area by representative of the sole Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt, Mr Noel Elenwo, Education Commissioner, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi and her counter part in the Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Hon. Joe Poroma, assured that work will commence soon.

Lawrence Nemi disclosed that her ministry has already commenced designs for the new school for those with special needs.

She said: “Let me on behalf of the Ministry of Education and my colleague, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, thank His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for giving hope to the physically challenged in the state and also the Sole Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam. I am gladdened in my heart today that I and my colleague are here (site for the school) today.

According to her, Amaechi’s vision for students with special needs in the state will now become a reality.

On his part, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Hon. Joe Poroma said the students with special needs in the state will have a new beginning with the school.

“It’s a great day in the lives of those that are physically challenged in our state. It has always been the dream of this administration to come up with a dream home, as you may as well call it school for those that are physically challenged in the state. Today is a new beginning; we’ve come here to inspect the land, and I promise everybody in this state that by the time this administration comes to an end, there’s going to be a befitting school for those that are physically challenged”, Poroma submitted.

The representative of the Sole Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, and Manager of the Survey Department, Mr. Noel Elenwo, said the land for the special school falls within the educational layout of the Greater Port-Harcourt City, and is about 3.48 hectares.

John Bibor