HOMEF’s School Of Ecology Reignites Hope, Wraps Up 2025 Programme, Awards Scholars

HOMEF’s School Of Ecology Reignites Hope, Wraps Up 2025 Programme, Awards Scholars
…aims at dismantling ecological inequalities

Tracy Ohovwore, Benin city

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) finalised its first session of the 2025 School of Ecology, which took place from March 24 to March 28, 2025, with the theme “Ecological Justice and Resilience.”

The School of Ecology session tackled pressing issues such as environmental injustice and extractivism, biodiversity and nature rights, climate Justice, and the role of cultural mediums in protecting the environment, ultimately aiming to unite diverse voices and struggles in the quest for environmental protection and sustainability.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, disclosed that the school of ecology is raising groups of brave activists who are keen about their environment.

He explained that the school of Ecology not only focused on the issues confronting the environment but also proffered solutions and drew insightful adaptation techniques that were implemented in the traditional African environment, which served as a protective measure for the environment and biodiversity.

“In this school of Ecology, we look at everything that concerns the environment. We look at how they build resilience, challenges faced by communities and solutions that are needed as well. “ He noted.

The environmental enthusiast further explained the concept behind ‘Eti-Uwem’, translates to good life and has been circulating for a while. He expressed that the idea encapsulates that the good life isn’t about material wealth but what the environment can get in return.

Earlier, the program manager of HOMEF, Mr Cadmus Atake-Enade, spoke on the subtopic “Radical socio-economic transformation through culture” and reiterated the need to use digital tools to propagate the right cultural narratives about local communities.

He further highlighted that the cultural attributes imbedded in the African tradition is enough to help create excessive wealth for Africans in such a way that harms are prevented from happening to the environment.

In addition Mr Babawale Obayanju, an environmental activist and policy analyst, highlighted that uniting common struggles amongst affected communities can help create strategic means towards addressing environmental challenges in a prompt and effective manner.

“We always have to remember that in this struggle, we must unite efforts to achieve a desired results which is a clean, safe and healthy environment.” He stated.

He also added that climate justice issues are interconnected with social justice issues, hence the need to join forces to save the environment.

One of the participants at the School of Ecology, Prof. Mbalisi Onyeka Festus, Professor of Adult and Environmental Education, University of Port Harcourt, commended the organization for the insightful and inspiring experience.

He reiterated his rekindled commitment to the environment, as the school of ecology has sparked a renewed awareness to spread awareness about environmental challenges and help campaign against them.

Sharing experience with NewsnowNg, Evelyn Eyo, one of the scholars of the School of Ecology from Akwa Ibom, expressed joy for being part of the training session.

She further mentioned that her experience so far has been thought-provoking and fantastic while learning, unlearning and re-learning about the environment and rich cultural perspectives on environmental issues.

“Everything I’ve learnt this few days have really helped me. This has opened my mind to many misconceptions I’ve had concerning the environment.

“This will help me go back, state down programmes that I’ll teach young people about the environment.” She added.

Another participant, Praise Omu, passionate environmental Academic of Niger Delta University, shared how she had been impacted towards playing active role towards securing the environment.

“We were instigated to take informed actions. Every speaker that spoke, whispered great words into our minds.

“For me what I’ve learnt on ecological justice and resilience is that realizing that everything around us, both living and non living things should be given their rights. They shouldn’t be used unjustifiably.

“And then when it comes to resilience, we’ve learnt that we can’t fight alone. We need to build communities, bringing together the people that have been divided as a result of ecological injustices and having one mind and one purpose.” She elaborated.