A professor, Folashade Olajuyigbe, has identified biotechnology as a panacea to the contemporary issues in coastal environment and achieving the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals (MSDGs).

Ms Olajuyigbe stated this on Thursday at a public lecture at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTEC), Okitipupa, Ondo.

Ms Olajuyigbe, the keynote speaker, noted that the society faced numerous challenges, adding that for it to meet MSDGs, there must be concerted efforts through collaborative approaches and possession of specialised problem-solving skills.

She highlighted the key contemporary issues, including climate change impacts, ocean acidification, loss of biodiversity, pollution and marine debris, coastal developmental pressure, over-exploitation of coastal resources and loss of coastal wetlands.

Deputy Governor Olaide Adelami said the conference was timely, as it would x-ray most of the challenges facing the immediate environment and the ecosystem.

Mr Adelami urged students to key into discussions at the conference while also commending the university’s vice-chancellor, Temi Ologunorisa, for his developmental vision, which, he said, had brought about development in the institution’s environment.

He expressed confidence that, in no distant time, the institution would be ranked among the best in the country and Africa.

“This conference is timely because it is going to x-ray major challenges and problems confronting our environment and the ecosystem,” the deputy governor said.

The vice-chancellor of OAUSTECH said the federal government had approved a deep sea port in the coastal area of Ilaje.

Mr Ologunorisa said the university had also established a marine academy to produce the critical manpower to drive the blue economy. He urged the federal and state governments to prioritise the opportunities for possible economic growth for the state and the country.

The vice-chancellor, who noted that most of the institution’s projects had been abandoned, urged the state government to do the needful so that the project contractors could return to the site.

(NAN)