By Barikui Felix
The Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, RSUBEB, has expressed its willingness to partner the Journalists for Sustainable Development Initiative, JSDI, in advocating for climate friendly practices amongst pupils in the various schools in the state.
JSDI is a non governmental organization comprising of practicing journalists into climate change advocacy and sustainable development in Africa.
The Director, Academic Services of RSUBEB, Lady Joy Ambakederemo stated the Board’s commitment during a Tree Planting Awareness Campaign/ Trainning For Young Climate Ambassadors carried out by JSDI at Community Secondary School, Rumuapara, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
She said that the initiative by the group was timely as it is being considered by the Federal Government in the new agriculture curriculum being designed for pupils which is expected to begin in the next academic session.
Noting the harmful impacts of climate change in Nigeria and other parts of the world, Ambakederemo commended the group for their foresight, disclosing that, soon the teaching of climate change would be spread around the 23 local govern areas of the state.
She said: “The Universal Basic Education Commission has redirected its policy on schools agriculture to planting of trees in our schools, educating the teachers on how to combat climate change and formation of Climate Change Clubs to create awareness of effective climate change”.
“We are going to work with you. Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, RSUBEB, especially my unit, will work with you,” she added.
Speaking on the motivation behind the initiative, Executive Director of JSDI, Dr Parry Benson said climate change has come stay, hence the need to increase the awareness on safe environmental practices to mitigate its dangerous impacts on the society.
“What has motivated us to go into this exercises is because climate change is here and it has come to stay so we as climate change ambassadors, we advocate for tree planting and we advocate for a safe environment.
“If you don’t have trees you don’t have earth, and so we want to say that government, individuals and the general public should join hands and let’s advocate for tree planting,” he stated.
On the essence of trainning young climate ambassadors, Benson said; “When you raise them in this culture of loving trees, they will grow in this particular attitude and as they grow they will protect the trees because when a child plants a tree, he protects it”.
He called on members of the public to desist from indiscriminate felling of trees.
Principal of the school, Dr Adaibea Woko assured that the school would ensure that the trees planted are protected and the lessons learnt from the lectures is inculcated on the students.
She expressed gladness that the school was chosen to benefit from the initiative by the group.
“This school premises is a flood prone area and so we are happy for this idea and we are saying that this trees that have been planted will be maintained and we’ll ensure they grow and survive and we’ll also establish the Climate Change Club for the students,” she assured.
On his part, Emmanuel Tangwa, The Public Relations Officer, Eastern Marine Command, Nigerian Customs, Port Harcourt, who was a guest at the event, commended JSDI for the move. He emphasized the need for the younger generation to be taught how to conserve the environment through planting of trees.
Tangwa re-echoed the harmful effects of climate change on states in the country, adding that trainning the younger generation is the way forward for Nigeria.
