Behold, I have given you every herb that yields seed and every tree whose fruits yield seed; to you it be shall be for meat.
By: Dosunmu Paul
In a world where universities are perceived as custodians of environmental consciousness and sustainable development, the University of Ibadan has embarked on what can only be described as an innovative approach to modernization — the systematic elimination of its historic green heritage.
This initiative seems to have operated under the persuasive guise that trees, those ancient witnesses to generations of academic excellence, have suddenly become obstacles to progress, climate change and infrastructural development.
Our beloved institution, distinguished for its profound wisdom and acute ingenuity, has judged the trees as silent usurpers of precious spaces where concrete could flourish.
The administration’s apparent philosophy that a tree removed is a problem solved displays a remarkable interpretation of environmental conversation, a foundational guide for students in the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources. After all, the Almighty has decreed for us dominion over the trees; to us they shall be for meat.
In what can only be described as a brilliant practical demonstration of environmental economics, the university has provided students with first-hand experience of the negotiation between immediate economic gains and long-term environmental sustainability. The sound of the falling trees serves as a percussion accompaniment to lectures on climate change and environmental conservation, creating an ironically powerful learning experience.
Gone are the days when students could foolishly idle their time sitting under the shade-providing trees, engaging in such frivolous activities as reading, group discussions or stress relief. The new space offers the exciting alternative of direct exposure to the sun, providing students with a practical, technical knowledge of thermodynamics and the physics of heat radiation. The removal of these leafy distractions ensures that students can now focus entirely on their studies.
Students who once enjoyed the refreshing breeze from the trees and walking along tree lined paths must now appreciate the innovative challenges of the deafening sounds from the construction sites, the air pollution caused by the use of heavy equipment or the shortage of clean air. Lovebirds, who used the trees as abode break up not because of heartbreak but because of heatstroke. The historic Heritage Park, a labor of our father’s past has become a myth, a memory of yester years.
We cannot but appreciate the University for helping us to successfully relocate our unofficial landlords. Birds, squirrels and other wildlife that once called these trees home have been effectively convinced to seek alternative accommodations, presumably in more environmentally conscious institutions.
The exodus of these potential distractions from our environment clearly demonstrates the university’s commitment to creating a focused learning environment.
As a proud member of this citadel of learning, I cannot help but marvel at this bold restructuring of the university environment.
Future generations of students will surely appreciate inheriting a campus where they need never worry about leaves cluttering their paths or birds disturbing their concentration with unnecessary chirping. They might not have shade, clean air or natural beauty but they will have plenty of concrete memories to cherish.
