By Chima Nwafo
Not surprisingly, it was the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that partnered the Federal Ministry of Environment, through its Department of Climate Change, to host “a Climate Incubation Hub meant to unlock youth innovativeness across the land.” But such is just one of hundreds of government-sponsored programmes which are never implemented.
The nation-wide programme kicked off in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South-south geo-political zone from August 15 to 16, 2019, according to EnviroNews. But, curiously, it was meant for the womenfolk, and not youths generally. Given the reluctance of Nigerian youth to get involved in environmental issues, like their peers in the developed world, it was timely that such a programme was organized specifically for them. That falls in line with the idiom from Francis Bacon’s 1625 Essays: “If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.”
From earlier editions of the Orbit that x-rayed the various anti-climate change protests and demonstrations by students in Europe vis-à-vis their Nigerian counterparts, it is obvious that our youth do not perceive the threat to the environment in the same light. Poverty and unemployment in the land notwithstanding, the youth must understand they have a greater stake in the future of the earth from where they will live and earn a living, than the elders whom they are blaming for their woes. As an inspirational speaker once enthused: “I am interested in the future because that is where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.” In fact, the notable environmentalist, Nnimmo Bassey, whose organisation, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), coordinated the process in the region, seem to share the same view when in his admonition to the participants, he charged: If you look at the whole scenario, you will see that the youth will be the ones to be the worst impacted, because the impacts of global warming are still coming to the future…. we want to get practical ideas from young people at the end of the day.”
Speaking in support of tertiary institutions taking the initiative in getting students involved in environmental activism, Charlotte Bonner, a Director for Students Organising for Sustainability, said: “Young people around the world feel that schools, colleges and universities have been too slow to react to the crisis that is now bearing down on us. We welcome the news that they are declaring a climate emergency, we have no time to lose. We will be calling on those who haven’t yet supported this initiative, to come on board. Of course, the most important element is the action that follows.”
She was reacting to the recent news that networks representing over 7,000 higher and further education institutions from six continents have announced that they are declaring a Climate Emergency, and agreed to undertake a three-point plan to address the crisis through their work with students. According to the report, they made the submission on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. They listed a three-point plan to include: Committing to going carbon neutral by 2030 or 2050 at the very latest; mobilising more resources for action-oriented climate change research and skills creation; and increasing the delivery of environmental and sustainability education across curricula, campus and community outreach programmes.
“What we teach shapes the future. We welcome this commitment from universities to go climate neutral by 2030 and to scale-up their efforts on campus. Young people are increasingly at the forefront of calls for more action on climate and environmental challenges. Initiatives which directly involve the youth in this critical work are a valuable contribution to achieving environmental lsustainability,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UN Environment.
No doubt, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has taken commendable strides in providing alternative sources of energy, driven by the whopping N60 million electricity bill from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). “We want to produce what can be used by the plant because what innovation is all about is using new technology to solve local problems. We have produced the first waste-to wealth energy facility in the sub-Sahara Africa, constructed by the innovative system of the UNN where waste is classified, cleansed and used to produce gas to maintain the) 105 KVA generator that will revolutionize power generation and distribution in the country at modular generation. There is waste everywhere, dirtying the whole place. First of all, it’s going to lead to the cleanliness of the environment, students will be empowered to lcollect waste, separate them, and they will be boughtll cheaply.”
Much as former vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba’s foregoing achievement is notable, it does not in any way conform to the global standard of desired student involvement in climate change activism or championing environmental campaigns that seek to secure their future.
Seyifunmi Adebote, an environmentalist and Nigeria’s youth delegate to the recent Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting, applauded the idea and expressed enthusiasm about the scalability of some of the climate innovations profiled: “I am reassured that there are solutions to the climate crisis witnessed in Nigeria today. From exploring technology to advocacy; policy implementation to public engagement, youths in Nigeria now understand the fact that climate change is real and are responding to the urgency of tackling the global challenge.”
Bassey also expressed optimism that the ideas from young people, if developed, can solve the problems that come with climate change in Nigeria.
Despite the good intention, usual material and financial support from the UNDP and donor agencies as well as the enthusiasm of the participating ladies whom Adebote hailed the “scalability” of their pitches, Bassey hit the nail on the head when he added – if developed – to his last sentence. Such a caveat from a man who has been involved in media commentary for some three decades should be taken seriously. And anyone familiar with Nigeria’s approach to issues of public interest would appreciate the fact that such “IF” is by no means the product of a cynical mind.
Talking about the youth and the future, one hopes the Climate Incubation Hub meant to unlock youth innovativeness across the land do not continue with the South-south model of excluding the male, which is an extreme case of gender equality, though they may have their reasons. But despite the impressive presentations of the ladies, variety is still the spice of life. Again, if the government will this time around, do things differently, and implement or sponsor the implementation of the various contributions as it affects each geo-political zone.
*Nwafo, Veteran Copy Editor/ Environmental Analyst, can be reached on: [email protected]
