By: IndyPress News Desk

Institut français de recherche en Afrique au Nigéria, simply IFRA-Nigeria, has on Thursday, 21st November 2024, commented on the sudden demolition of all the tent trees at Heritage Park, University of Ibadan.

IFRA-Nigeria in a Facebook page via its handle noted that the popular green space was created to commemorate the University’s 60th anniversary.

The institute also noted that the park was conceived, designed, named and brought to life by Professor Labode Popoola, former Vice Chancellor University of Osun, who had served as sub-Dean Postgraduate for the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan.

“IFRA-Nigeria received this new today: The magnificent urban Green Space at the University of Ibadan, HERITAGE PARK, has been taken down,” the post reads.

“The activity started last night and is ongoing this morning. HERITAGE PARK was conceived, designed, named and brought to life by Prof. Labode Popoola, during his tenure as Dean of the Post-Graduate School at the University of Ibadan. The park was created to commemorate the University of Ibadan’s 60th anniversary,” the post concluded.

IFRA-Nigeria is one of the 27 Public Research Institutes under the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs based overseas.

Commenting, Oyewole Ibukun, pointed out that research linking the relationship of city dwellers to plants was ongoing in the University.

“Ironically, Prof. Emile Guitard currently has an ongoing research that explores local plants and trees, which are considered ‘heritage from below’. The idea of the project is to make us understand the relationship of city dwellers to plants in terms of memory and conceptions of the past. An interesting approach that hasn’t gained much popularity in environmental and heritage conservation. It’s disappointing that this is happening in the institution where this research is going on. This is not new, it’s been happening for a while, since the last administration I guess,” Oyewole said.

“I wonder why they started felling the trees at night. I was sad when I passed the place this afternoon. It’s one of the places that I love visiting in UI. The scenery is soothing. It’s sad that all is gone within hours,” Janet Omeiza-Ogaji, another user commented.

“This has been conceived for some time.Why did we keep quiet till now!” Ademolaaremu Oluwakemi, another concerned Facebook user also commented.

“RIP, Heritage Park, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Seeing photos of massive felling of UI trees is heartbreaking. Those behind this truly feel that they are accountable to no one and can be held accountable to none,” Toba Bankole, an alumnus of the University posted.

“They feel that they have done nothing wrong and have broken no law. They feel that those trees being felled are mere plants, bushes or forest that needs to be cleared out to give way for what they call development. Though they are expected to know better, given that this is happening in such an exalted campus as the University of Ibadan, an elite academic environment. They ought to know that such practices hurt animals, people, environment, and the trees themselves,” the post added.