By Tracy Ohovwore, Benin City
On Friday, April 25, 2025, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) held a one-day poetry event in Benin City to raise awareness of environmental issues.
Students from the University of Benin, community leaders and members, and professors and lecturers from other universities attended the event.
Speaking, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of the Health Mother Earth Foundation, voiced concerns about the unsettling effects of climate change that are leading to economic issues and environmental contamination, particularly from big businesses that have been accountable for certain environmental disasters.
He added that “Nature is not a machine”, and that many have resolved to the fate as “sometimes we tend to accommodate pollution” which have perpetuated poverty within the Niger Delta communities.
“The current solution to the challenging nature of the environment is readily present in the culture and local environment,” the executive director told the audience.
Award-winning poet and author Prof. Tanure Ojaide, who was the event’s guest speaker, emphasized the value of illustrating environmental issues through artistic mediums like poetry in order to restore a healthy environment.
To address environmental and biodiversity issues, Professor Ojaide emphasized integration as a comprehensive strategy.
Furthermore, he added that until measures are initiated to achieve a sustainable environment, such as traditional means of conservation, the source of livelihood of the Niger Delta people will remain threatened.
Speaking to NewsNowNg, Ojaide noted that, “All we have to do is to realize that each person have the responsibility to ensure that the environment is made cleaner, healthier, better and conducive for all.This is because the environment is not what it used to be in 30 to 40 years ago. Everybody was happy and the environment was well taken care of.” He stated.
HOMEF organizes Poetry Day to promote environmental awareness and cultural appreciation.
According to him, “The more we pay attention to the environment, the better it gets. Using poetry to highlight these rising issues is a creative way to raise awareness just like today is commendable efforts.”
Dr Steve Bode Ekundayo, another guest speaker, addressed the audience and emphasized the creative use of poetry to ignite movement building.
Dr. Ekundayo emphasized that the growing need for modernization has not only disrupted Niger Delta communities’ traditional values, but also had a negative impact on their environment.
He urged young minds to use poetry to address environmental issues, inspiring collective action and encouraging collaborative solutions.
