| Special class teacher
• Day Fashola tutored school kids on climate change
By TESSY OKOYE
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
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Crown troupe thrilling guests
• PHOTO: Sun News Publishing
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The Nigerian Police College Ground, Ikeja, Lagos was almost
bursting at its seams with an unprecedented crowd that graced
the official launch of the Climate Change Club in all public
schools in Lagos State recently.
The field, that hot afternoon, bubbled with a throng of people
milling around in different shades of uniform and costumes.
Representing their schools and bustling with zest, students
from all over the state came with different strong messages
of hope, songs and exhibitions, all aimed at saving the world
from extinction.
Climate Change Club, which is an initiative of the Ministry
of the Environment, was specifically established to orientate
the youths and inculcate in them sanitary and good habits
as a vehicle of change. It is also geared towards restoring
the glory and beauty of Lagos State by boosting its tourism
potentialities.
The ceremony was not just a purely student affair. The presence
of the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, his deputy,
Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Commissioner for the Environment,
Dr. Muiz Banire, top government functionaries, royal fathers,
market women and non-governmental organizations gave more
shine to the gathering.
Governor Fashola came early, and his arrival with his entourage
sent the students into a frenzy. Most of them who were probably
seeing the number one man in the state for the first time
struggled to catch a glimpse of him.
In a show of humility, the governor didn’t immediately
take his seat. He went round the field waving and stopping
to shake hands with the excited school children.
Immediately the governor took his seat, the national anthem
was recited, followed by the climate change anthem.
A captivating drama performed by Crown Troupe, entitled: ‘Weep
no more mother nature’, highlighted the dangers of degrading
the environment and ways of making the environment better.
Guests were later treated to a scintillating display of choreography
by a cross section of the students, which left many people
clapping in acknowledgement.
A climate address, poems and essay competition, which brought
to the fore high academic prowess of the school children on
environmental related issues was also held. The competition,
apart from focusing on environmental issues that affect the
world, proferred solutions to climate change and environmental
challenges.
Governor Fashola, while commending the students for their
brilliant initiatives implored them to take active interest
in issues that concern the environment and be at the vanguard
of efforts that would preserve the world.
He also urged Nigerians to refrain from habits that endanger
and degrade the environment, to protect future generation
from looming catastrophe caused by climate change.
According to him, climate change is the most serious threat
facing the world today and machinery must be put in motion
to educate children against unwholesome practices that engenders
global warming.
"It is certainly beyond dispute that as a result of human
activities, the climate is changing. It is becoming unstable,
more volatile and warmer. Extreme weather events are becoming
more frequent and severe. Predicted threats are increasing
at alarming rate and if nothing is done about it, there might
be wide spread devastation," he said.
Speaking on the importance of the club in the development
of the state, Fashola noted that it was a major step aimed
at stimulating greater public interest on the precarious state
of the Lagos State. He disclosed that owing to the nature
of the state, proactive steps needed to be taken to forestall
widespread catastrophe.
"We are building on the foundation to aggressively beautify
and green the environment as well as strictly enforce state
environmental and physical planning laws. Due to the peculiar
coastal nature of Lagos State, which has led to climate variability,
such as Bar Beach flooding, erosion, intense rainfall and
rising sea level, Lagosians need to be more concerned and
take proactive measures to address the challenges.
"Climate Change Club marks another milestone in our journey
towards a cleaner, healthier, sustainable and disciplined
society. It is part of the administration’s crusade
against global warming and addressing the depletion of Ozone
layer substances into the atmosphere. This is a clarion call
to all of us to change our ways, knowing full well it is the
greatest responsibility we owe our children. We also must
restore Lagos State to her glory by beautifying the environment,
making use of road worthy vehicles and patronizing appointed
waste operators," he added.
While distributing seedlings and garden tools to schools,
he harped on his administration’s 10-point development
agenda, and called on industrialists, civil society groups
and the private sector to embrace a clean, green habit.
The commissioner for the environment went down memory lane,
recalling time when the seasons were predictable and regular.
"Gone were the days when we knew the seasons by heart,"
he said, adding: " Now, meteorologists are having a hard
time understanding or forecasting the seasons. Nothing is
so certain anymore as the rains are coming later and are more
furious. Ocean levels are rising and breaking boundaries,
causing landslides, massive flooding and tsunamis. The ice
caps are melting and global temperature is unusually warm.
The question is, what is happening to our world?", Banire
asked.
He harped on the significance of making children aware of
the need for redemptive efforts that would tackle the dangerous
situation.
"It would be dangerous not to recognize that we are confronting
serious environmental challenge that not only threatens our
future, but also that of our children. By launching this club,
we are sowing the seed of change early in the lives of kids,
which would in turn yield fruits that will challenge our sense
of complacency on environmental issues. These children would
serve as beacons for energy conservation and other environmental
friendly habits", he said.
The relevance of the event was not lost on the children as
those who emerged winners in the essay competition were rewarded
with mouth-watering prizes and a golden handshake with Governor
Raji Fashola.
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