HOMEF Initiates Book reading to Awaken Environmental Consciousness
Tracy Ohovwore, Benin
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has reignited the reading culture and amplified the call for environmental justice through a book reading, storytelling, and poetry session held on Friday, January 31, 2025.
In an era where digital distractions threatens reading habits, the event served as a platform to promote literature while advocating for socio-ecological justice and food sovereignty across Nigeria and Africa.
Speaking at the event, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive director of HOMEF emphasized that the session was drawn from A walk in the curfew, a collection of stories inspired during the Covid-19 lockdown, exploring poverty, environmental justice and resilience.
The book “A walk in the Curfew”, addresses failed systems of government and other key players in the society who have failed to address pressing environmental problems. The book which was written out of experience and passion were read to participants to remind them on the need to discontinue activities that poses threat to the environment.
Additionally, these stories also evoked the power of human connection, solidarity and creativity in the face of adversity. Expressing that there is hope for a safer and cleaner earth but also offers insights and inspiration for a more just, equitable and sustainable future.
Speaking after event, one of the authors, Onome Etisioro revealed that the use of study talking is a very effective method to engage and stimulate actions towards environmental protection.
Etisioro also shared that her inspirations were gotten following the turnout of events during the lock down that ignited a need to reflect on human activities and how it can impact nature.
Also, Kome Odhmor, one of the inspiring authors shared that her writings were birthed following her visit to Bonny island in Rivers state where she discovered dead fishes by the river bank. This inspired her need to create an awareness through storytelling.
“I came to realize that man is dependent on environment, so we have every responsibility to protect the environment as humans. “ she said.
Through the power of storytelling, the session reminded participants on the rising urgency of environment protection an the need to deploy policies that priorities nature and to challenge individuals and institutions to rethink their actions towards the environment.
One of the participants, Ehis Ferguson also shared lessons learnt from the session. According to him, it is a collective responsibility to ensure that the environment is safe and that activities endangering the environment an ecosystem are halted to foster sustainability and long lasting solution to environmental crisis.
The session ended with a renewed commitment towards the protection of the environment with participants urged adopt more reliable practices that posits environmental friendliness.
The distinguished authors of the book includes; Mfoniso Christian Xael, an environmental scientist, Oghenekome Odhomor, Media communications lead at HOMEF, Onome Etisioro, Legal officer at HOMEF.
