Some Major Breakthroughs
The Department of Forestry and Environmental Management (FOREM) has several landmark achievements. With staff strength of seasoned academics under the pioneering headship of Professor A.E. Akachuku, the department successfully articulated the unique multidisciplinary Bachelor of Forestry and Environmental Management (B. FOREM) degree programme, which brilliantly stands out among similar degree programmes nationwide. She has also consistently received full accreditation from all her routine National Universities Commission (NUC) Accreditation exercises from inception.
The Department successfully established and manages a Research and Demonstration Nursery where tree seedlings of especially indigenous tree species are being raised. The seedlings are usually made available to the University host communities and institutions within the State through our various extension and awareness creation programmes, thereby enhancing the conservation status of these species and improving livelihood of the people. The department also established and managed an Industrial Seed Production Unit which has assisted many individuals and institutions in the State and neighboring States to establish various tree orchards and plantations, thereby helping to mitigate global climate change and other consequences of the high rate of deforestation in the Nigeria.
Over the years, the department has successfully embarked on soft landscaping of the campus with various tree species. Sometimes this is by sole effort of the department staff and at other times it is university funded or through the instrumentality of the World Environment Day Celebration being organized annually by CNREM. The success of these landscaping projects is very evident in the manner in which the walkways to the University’s Administrative Block and many other buildings/edifices of the university are beautifully lined up with avenue/shade trees and ornamental plants. These have greatly enhanced the aesthetics and scenic beauty such that they have become key landmarks and signatories to our great University. To date, the University generates revenue through palm oil production from the palm trees (Elaeis guineensis) planted by the department as avenue trees along some roads in the University.
The Department has consistently graduated students from her B. FOREM degree program over the years. The first set of B. FOREM graduates (comprising 15 undergraduate students) fledged in 1998, and a total of 17 batches of students of the programme have so far been graduated, with seven (7) of the students graduating with First Class. One of the First Class graduates was the best graduating student of the University during the session. Our student has also won and successfully completed his tenure as the President of the Student Union Government (SUG) of the University.
The Department has successfully graduated several persons from her Postgraduate Programme. It is noteworthy that most of the current lecturers of the Department as well as lecturers of the sister Department of Environmental Management and Technology in CNREM and the Departments of Forestry in most universities in the South and Southeast regions of the country were trained at one stage or the other, in our Department. Our Department staff founded/pioneered the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology of this University, the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Technology of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State and the Department of Forestry and Wildlife of Cross River State University of Technology, Cross River State.
Some of our graduates who eventually became lecturers in the various universities across the country have grown through the ranks to become Professors, Associate Professors etc., and some have served or are currently serving as Deans, Deputy Dean and Heads of their various colleges, departments or units. One of our graduates has served as member of our University Council.
External Relationships/Collaborations
There are linkage programs and collaborative relationships between the department and the following institutions:
Job Opportunites
Our world-class training offers undergraduate, postgraduates, farmers, communities and NGOs the cutting-edge skills and competencies to optimize their abilities and efficiencies for governmental, industrial and self-employment or entrepreneurship in food, fibre (wood) and feed production and associated enterprises, in a sustainable and environmentally wholesome manner. The multifaceted training approach of our programmes equips our students and trainees with state-of-the-art skills and competencies to satisfy emerging demands of modern day employers and development partners as well as in entrepreneurship. It facilitates the students’ scientific skills, specialist managerial and self-confidence in handling matters and dealing with all issues relating to the management and conservation of forest, wildlife and the environment.
Our graduates can work in academic institutions like Universities, Polytechniques and Colleges of Educations. They can also work in government ministries and research institutes such as Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) etc, in hospitality industries like hotels and guest houses, with lands and estate developers and managers, in local and international NGO’s and development partners, or public and institutions like schools, hospitals, stadiums, farms to mention a few. Self employment opportunities for our graduates include working as consulting foresters and agroforesters, natural resources and environment managers, landscape designers, estate management, tree surgeons, forest and agroforest farm owners, REDD programme Resource Person and consultants, Forest food producers, processors and marketers, etc. With the passage into law by the National Assembly of the bill on National Institute of Chattered Forester (NICF), the job opportunities of our graduates can only get better.