Six schools emerge winners in environment day arts show

Six secondary and primary schools have emerged winners in the World Environment Day (WED) 2018, inter-school arts exhibition organized by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).

The winners in the secondary school category are Mayors Height School, Epe Girls Senior Secondary School and Genesis High School as first, second and third positions respectively.

While Refiners School, Genesis Primary School and Learning Ladder Montessori School emerged winners in the primary category as first, second and third positions respectively.

About 11 secondary schools and seven primary schools (both public and private) across Lagos State participated in the competition.

The activities were organized to enable students to showcase their creative abilities in turning plastics waste into arts and crafts while learning about ways the government and other stakeholders are helping to reduce its production and adverse effect on the people.

NCF also hosted key stakeholders in the plastic industries for a session of deliberation.

The foundation has over the years used WED to grow environmental literacy among the youths and the students. Avenue is usually created for the participants to individually or collectively develop solutions to current environmental challenges.

The arts exhibition is an idea about up-cycling (converting waste plastics to arts and craft) rather than recycling.

NCF encouraged stakeholders involved in the production and consumption of plastics, as well as the policy makers to jointly explore sustainable alternatives.

Furthermore, to urgently reduce the production and excessive use of single-use plastics polluting our oceans, damaging marine life and threatening human health.

Plastic pollution involves the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans.

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ede Dafinone said that “most of the plastic waste generated comes from deliberate dumping of garbage into waterways and mismanaged waste disposal.

More than 50 per cent of plastic waste generated comes from inadequate management due to lack or infrastructure associated with an ever-increasing population”.

NCF Director General, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano revealed that “30 million tonnes of plastics are produced annually all over the world, eight million tonnes find their way into the ocean, while the rest litter our streets, clog our drainages and some flying in the air, causing health problems”.

The Country Director, United Nations Information Centre, Lagos, Mr. Raymond Kayanja made a clarion call on all parties, government, corporate organisations and individuals to come forth to stem the big challenge plastic is putting us through and which it may lead us into if not urgently checked.

Present also at the event was an environmental activist, Chairman of Lagos Urban Forest and Animal Sanctuary Initiative (LUFASI), Desmond Majekodunmi; Environmental & Regulatory Supervisor, Exxon Mobil, Uzochi Osondu; Group Head, IHS International Jolomi Dudu.