The Thursday Film Series, University of Ibadan, hosted a special screening and discussion bordering on environmental degradation on Thursday, 6th of February, 2025, at Drapers Hall, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.

The special screening, held in furtherance of the group’s #GreenorGrey campaign. It began with two short clips, one of which was a short documentary on the Osun Osogbo Grove, that set the tone for the discussion.

It was followed by a special documentary, titled The Poets, which delved into the lives of two African poets, Nigeria’s Professor Niyi Osundare, and Syl Cheney-Coker, a renowned Sierra Leonean poet.

An exploratory work, The Poet explored how the birthplace and Country of the two poets, Nigeria and Sierra Leone respectively, shaped the formation of their lives and crafts.

The documentary was followed by a special discussion on environmental degradation, particularly the recent felling of trees in UI.

Invited as guests for the panelist discussion were Professor Niyi Osundare, eco-literature author, Molara Wood, journalist, and environmental activist and Adeola Aderemi, a multilingual, multilocal, AfroGreek, and multi-format artist and filmmaker.

Speaking during the discussion, Prof Niyi Osundare berated the University management, and the country at large over a spectrum of issues; from the destruction of Heritage Park, and the incessant felling of trees, to the unending UCH blackout, and the decline of the University’s standards.

In a passionate outburst at the school, he said “most of the problems of our country begin in our University. B.A, M.A, Msc, PHD, professorship and so on, what impact have we had on this Country?”

“We don’t think in our Universities,” he continued. “We act first, and think later. We are a country of foolish people. Our politicians exploit our foolishness, and it begins in our Universities. How does that happen? It begins with a university that cannot teach students how to ask questions,” he lamented.

For her own part, Mrs Molara Wood noted that “the environment has potential for creativity and imagination.” Speaking to the destruction of Heritage Park, she tagged the destruction of the place as “a mindless carnage.”

Stretching the problem of environmental degradation further, Mrs Molara Wood bemoaned the continuous decline of the Osogbo Grove.

In her own words, “it is so sad in these times to see that the quality of the place, its water, is now worse than it used to be. Now, it’s a murky reddish brown horrible appearance. And this is because of the illegal, uncontrolled mining ongoing in southwestern communities, for which no one’s willing to do anything about. And this is what is happening here in the University of Ibadan. No one feels obligated to give account for it. It is no different from the way the politicians behave [academics behaving like a random senator]. It is a manifestation of the nonchalance in the society.”

Miss Aderemi Adeola enjoined listeners to be honest to each other and speak truth to those in power. “If we are not planting trees, don’t cut them,” she said.

As the session came to a close, the panelists advised that we need to raise awareness and to “sensitize Nigerians into knowing that the quality of the environment impacts our lives.”

In attendance at the event we’re Professors and lecturers from the University, Femi Osofisan, the renowned author, and several students.