Issues of climate change and environmental protection is a global subjects that should be incorporated into the Nigerian educational system, to create awareness and involvement among young people. This was established at the Wiki Climate Campus Tour which was held at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, organized by Wiki Media Foundation, in partnership with the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria, on Thursday the 20th of July, 2023.
Speaking as a panelist at the meeting, Melody Enyinnaya, Project Officer, Waste Management of ERA/FoEN, described climate change as a long-term shift in temperature and weather patterns with human activities serving as the main driver primarily due to the emission of Carbon (IV) Oxide (CO2) from the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, etc, which cumulatively increase heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the earth’s atmosphere that makes the earth warmer. She further explained that activities such as gas flaring, toxic emissions from vehicles, incineration, and poor waste management systems are daily contributors to the climate issues affecting the planet today.
Melody added that if the knowledge of climate change and strategic climate actions are not seen as an environmental emergency, the planet Earth is at risk of being an uninhabitable place for us all in the future.
Hannah Ahemokhail, Project Officer, Administration of ERA/FoEN, another panelist at the session pointed out that some of the environmental issues such as flooding and extreme weather conditions are manifestations of activities that induce climate change. She encouraged students to think outside the box and to seek business ventures that can reduce the use of plastic and emissions, as their contribution to the need to save the Earth from climate change.
Representing the SDG Network in Edo State, Ebuka Onuoha stated that climate change has taken its toll on the Nigerian economy, resulting in poverty in the country. He opined that the environmental laws of Nigeria have suffered from lack of implementation, hence the continuous issues of flooding that have taken over communities and farmlands, reducing food production, housing, and habitable lands.
He called on the students to start in their prime to push environment protection and climate change sensitizations through social and academic activities.