Several man-made factors have been attributed to climate change, resulting in a sharp shift from conducive and a good standard of living people enjoyed several years back.
Showing serious concerns to curtail the hazards post by climate change, the convener of 9ja climate walk doubled as Youth Movement for Sustainable Development Goals(SDGS), a Non Governmental Agency, Mr Ojuoluwa Oluwatobiloba has called on Nigerian youths to be part of the process to stop climate change and injustice which had further compounded the problems of Nigeria.
Ojuoluwa reiterated that indiscriminate dumping of refuse, incessant falling of trees without replacement, burning of bushes, emission of gas from factories, indiscriminate sinking of boreholes, among others contributed to current rapid climate change.
9ja Climate work in partnership with Ekiti state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for Sustainable future on Friday embarked on awareness walk from Oke-iyinmi in Ado Ekiti to Fajuyi motor park where they sensitized residents on proper disposal and management of wastes.
The convener charged Ekiti Residents to properly dispose off their wastes in the Dano bins provided by the Ekiti state government placed in strategic places. Saying burning the waste and littering them across the streets are hazardous to their health. While admonishing them to convert the waste to wealth via recycling of expired cans, rubbers and materials, Ojuoluwa said waste are good fortune if properly maintained.
The convener who charged Nigerians to stop accepting loans for development from foreign countries, said it’s climate injustice which must be paid back. Ojuoluwa reeled out his mission to include: Bringing green business to Ekiti, recycling businesses, training more solar engineers and bringing youths to be part of the planning stage and policy formulation.. ”
Speaking on the effects of climate change, the Director of Climate Change and nature conservative in Ekiti state, Mr Babatunde Akinola enumerated food insecurity, flood, deforestation, desertification, desert encroachment, inability to sleep well, several spices of plants and crops going into extinction, disasters, drought, high temperature, health challenges including outbreak of diseases, rainstorms and many more as factors that have affected all aspects of human endeavors
Assuring residents of Ekiti state that Governor Biodun Oyebanji has been proactive in solving some of the challenges of climate change. He stressed that several measures have been put in place, to include: Ministry of Environment kicked start the launch of Ekiti state climate plan, participation in series of conferences on climate change, collaboration with the department of climate change; Federal Ministry of Environment, advocacy, programmes, tree planting, procurement of 40 dano bins, recycling plant at Ilokun Ekiti and timely evacuation of waste among others
On her part, Hon Mrs IYABO Fakunle- Okieimen , Chairman, House committee on Environment reiterated that government has made several laws such as forestry law, environmental sanitation laws, state environmental protection law which has been reviewed to incorporate new map, water shed management and others. She added that the beauty of making laws were to ensure they were enforced, saying that was the only way the environment could be sustainable and a good place for the masses to live in.
9ja climate awareness walk in partnership with Ekiti State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for a sustainable future was powered by several agencies which includes :
NCF, Rotaracy E -Club , EKSG, Yali Network Ekiti, SDSN Youth Nig, Tged Foundation, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Royal Ambassadors, Foundation for Excellent Living and Development for Youths and Women.
