Ogun State government, through the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Environmental Management and Climate Change Club (EMC), founded by a non-governmental organisation, Foundation for A Better Environment (FABE), has enlightened students on the need to mitigate the effects of indiscriminate disposal of waste on the environment.
Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, speaking at an enlightenment programme at Taidob College, Asero, Abeokuta recently, said establishing clubs in schools across the state is a valuable way of creating awareness on how to manage climate change and turning waste into wealth by the younger generation.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Sam Oyeleye, explained that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have 17 objectives, with goals 11 and 13 focused on the impact of environment and climate change, stated that “society does not exist in environment, rather humans made up society and society gives back what we give to it.”
According to a release signed by the Press Officer, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Modupe Salabiu, the commissioner charged students to be concerned about the environment and correct friends, neighbours and parents by educating them on how to properly dispose waste and maintain a clean environment, in order to have a cleaner, safer and healthier place.
Contributing, Director, Special Duties and Climate Change, Mr. Olatunji Egbemuyiwa, explained that earth experiences climate change at least, every 10 years, noting that natural causes like green-house gasses, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, ozone layers, among others, while deforestation and bush burning which are human-induced have effects on climate change.
Earlier, the Director, Administrative and Supplies, Mrs. Taiwo Adebiyi, lauded lauded government for extending the culture of managing the environment to schools, noting that creating awareness on climate change will go a long way in inculcating the habit of managing and sustaining a cleaner environment.
The founder of FABE, who was the guest speaker, Mrs Temitope Okunu stressing the need for children to be cognisance of their environment and how it affects climate change, said initiating a club where students will be exposed to the fundamentals of recycling, reusing and waste management is essential, as it is not in the school curriculum.
She expressed satisfaction that students had been taught how to reuse plastics, tyres for planting cans and cartons for profit purposes, promising that the foundation will continue to inform students across the state on how to manage and maintain their environment.
Highlight of the programme was presentations from students, from Taidob College, Matilda High School, Abeokuta Grammar School, Lisabi Grammar School and Baptist Boys High School, all in Abeokuta on what they have been able to produce from waste.
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