Faculty: Forestry
Program: Master of International Forestry
Year: 2024
Country: Nigeria
I am Mercy Oziohu, Peter. I’m Nigerian. I am an inquisitive, calm, and goal-oriented individual capable of working with minimal supervision. I love meeting new people and learning new things, as I believe new discoveries keep us relevant among our peers. I graduated from the University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria, with a first-class honor’s in crop science from the Faculty of Agriculture.
My passion for nature drives me to volunteer with several NGOs, as a climate change activist. Having witnessed the encroachment of the desert towards the northeast and middle belt regions of Nigeria due to excessive logging and deforestation, I participated in school and community sensitization programs where youths were educated about the effects of and actions that could help control climate change. I’m passionate about sustainable forest management and climate change awareness. As a graduate intern with the Forest Unit at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA I successfully contributed to the Olokemeji Forest Reserve reforestation project, restoring degraded land, promoting biodiversity, and improving livelihoods for local communities, making a positive impact on the environment.
Coming to UBC, I will love to contribute to environmental protection through research in forest conservation and ecosystem management. Studying forestry will hone my skills to address environmental challenges. I look forward to participating in programs in international forest policy and ecological restoration, as well as collaborating on projects to promote sustainability. I am thrilled about Vancouver’s natural beauty and multicultural community, as well as UBC’s research opportunities, having made some findings online. I look forward to engaging with faculty in forestry, meeting new people, and joining sustainability-focused student organizations to connect with like-minded peers.