A group of academics, taught and mentored by Prof. Edwin Osawe Iguisi of Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, have written a festschrift as a special gratitude to their teacher and mentor for his “hard work, kindness and service to humanity”.
The 350-page publication, titled, “Integrated Environmental Management Issues: A Festschrift in Honour of Professor Geomorphology & Hydrology”, was presented to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, by members of the book’s Editorial Board.
The Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Prof. I.J. Musa and Head, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Dr. Shehu Abass witnessed the brief ceremony.
A total of 47 scholars from Ahmadu Bello University and other universities as well as inter-university centres across the country contributed to the making of the book.
Iguisi, a former Head, Department of Geography, and pioneer Director, Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies, is a professor of geomorphology and hydrology.
He made numerous contributions in such areas as geomorphology, hydrology, climatology, agroclimatology, soil geography, biogeography, disaster management, remote sensing and geographical information system.
Interestingly, Prof. Iguisi’s pioneer study on the assessment of the level of sedimentation of Kubanni Dam, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1997 had created awareness on the siltation rate of the reservoir and as well triggered several postgraduate studies.
The 19-chapter publication revolves primarily around issues such as climate change and food security, land resources management, water resources management and disaster risk management.
In his foreword to the book, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, described Iguisi as a reputable professor of geomorphology and hydrology who had “served the University diligently by contributing immensely to teaching, learning and research” for over 36 years.
“During my service in various capacities until becoming the Vice-Chancellor, I have worked very closely with Prof. Iguisi and he has proven to be reliable and hardworking. I want to sincerely commend him for the rare qualities of producing up to 30 PhD candidates as at the count”, he said.
Prof. Bala also described the festschrift as a product of rich teaching, research and practical experience of contributing authors, who had taught in higher institutions of learning for years.
He further explained that the issue of environmental management was among the current contending problems affecting humanity worldwide, saying, therefore, that environmental managers, geographers, urban planners, architects, archeologists, civil engineers and policy-makers would no doubt find the book useful.
Prof. Iguisi was part of the delegation from the Department of Geography and Environmental Management that visited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala recently to present the book to the Vice-Chancellor in the presence of the Acting University Librarian, Malam Abdulhamid Gambo Liman and other Management Staff of the University.
The book was edited by Dr. Yakubu Yusuf Obadaki, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Dr. Folorunsho Joseph Olaniyi, Department of Geography, Federal University, Lokoja; Dr. Murtala M. Gada, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto; Dr. Rayleigh Abu Dada, Department of Geography, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State; and Dr. Tasiu Rilwan, Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Wednesday, 20th July, 2022
