08/08/2026
FIELD EXPERIENCE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Assessing the Impacts of Seasonal Flooding on Communities along the Omambala River
It was an exciting and insightful day for the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, as we embarked on a departmental field trip to explore environmental challenges within the Omambala community.
The field exercise brought together students from the Departments of Geography, Social Studies, and Guidance and Counselling, providing an opportunity to learn directly from the environment and the people who live within it.
First Stop: Ugwu-Oyi Quarry Site
Our first stop was at the Ugwu-Oyi Quarry Site, where students examined the geological formations and gained firsthand knowledge of quarrying activities and their environmental consequences, particularly landscape alteration and land degradation.
A Special Royal Reception
We were deeply honoured to be received by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Sir Ben Izuchukwu Emeka, Oke Ebo II of Umueri.
We sincerely appreciate His Royal Majesty for graciously receiving our students and lecturers and, most importantly, for taking the time to enlighten us on the history, impacts, and management of seasonal flooding in the Omambala area.
His Royal Majesty's insights provided the students with a valuable perspective on how the local community experiences flooding and the various strategies employed to cope with and reduce its effects.
On behalf of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, we extend our profound gratitude to His Royal Majesty for his warm hospitality, wisdom, and support for education and field-based learning. Your Majesty, we are truly grateful.
At the Omambala River
We later proceeded to the Omambala River, where students observed the floodplain environment firsthand and gained a better understanding of how seasonal flooding affects farming, transportation, businesses, movement, and other aspects of everyday life.
The field experience was a practical demonstration that geography extends far beyond maps, theories, and classrooms. It is about understanding the relationship between people, places, and the environment.