Environmentalists have reinforced the benefits of educating the younger generation on the impact of climate change. They also noted the urgency to deepen awareness, and encourage sustainable practices to achieve a more climate-friendly society.
Leading the call, the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who spoke at the award and prize-giving ceremony organised by Dawn Project in Lagos, harped on the need for collaboration and engagement to reverse the damage done to the environment through human activities.
“We have to reverse the trend and improve environmental sustainability. This is the defining moment for our generation. Everyone knows and says it affects us. We can’t sit here and watch. The earth temperature is rising, the ice caps are swelling, the sea levels are rising and there are floods everywhere. All these affect our food security,” Ogunsola said.
She further said: “We need to Rescue, Repair, Reuse and Recycle. Let it be a fashion. Let us also think about the trash we throw out. Many times, it clogs our waterways and pollutes our environment,” she said.
In a keynote address, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, commended the initiators of the Dawn Project for creating a platform that deals with environmental issues in the society, noting the importance of teaching the children principles of protecting the environment either by conserving or replenishing places cannot be over emphasised.
Abayomi encouraged the private sector and civil societies to key into the mission and vision of the government for a healthier lifestyle for the citizens, saying the government encourages environmental protection and recycling in the communities.
One of the partners in the project, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, noted that the adverse effects of climate change are fast catching up with mankind, hence the need for a sensitisation among young people to engage in practices that are more sustainable to human well-being.
Ajayi said the human society needs to look towards entrenching practices like tree planting and embracing alternative sources of power generation, which would reduce the burden of air pollution in the environment.
On his part, the founder of Lufasi Nature Park and collaborator on the project, Desmond Majekodunmi, stressed the need to tackle the challenges of climate change as the survival of human species and societies depends on it.
About 21 young Nigerians between the ages of seven to 18 that won in the various categories of the climate sustainability competition received their prizes. The winners include Chiamaka Okeke, who won the first prize in the junior writing category; Christiana Ojeade, who took the first prize in the 14 to 17 years category; Harriet Ariyo, who won the seven to 13 years category, among others.
Ariyo, a student of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, Lagos, noted that the competition made her learn sustainable environmental practices, as well as improve on writing skill.
