One of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks, Access Bank Plc and Nerdz Factory Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to improve access to quality education, skills and gender equality, have launched a campaign that will see students in public secondary schools across Lagos serve as model ambassadors for their global climate change advocacy.
The flag-off event, which was held at the Lagos City College Hall in Yaba, featured the launch of ‘The climate change and environmental sustainability clubs’, which will equip at least 2,000 students and teachers across 50 schools in the state, including the announcement of a climate essay competition.
While addressing the students, the Senior Special Assistant on Education to the state Governor, Adetola Salau, said climate change is a real phenomenon that should be understood rather than dismissed, urging the students to take the issue of climate change seriously as they would deal with it sooner or later.
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The initiative is coming at a time when the world and the state need sustainable climate intervention and the organisers noted that climate change and sustainability clubs are designed to educate teachers, students, and school leaders on environmental sustainability and climate change education, while also encouraging STEM and green careers among young people.
Also at the event, the Director, NerdzFactory Foundation, Ade Olowojoba, referred to the current nationwide flood crisis as a reason why more attention should be paid to climate change issues in Nigeria and he charged the students to not be passive about the environment but always take action about it.
Also speaking, Group Sustainability at Access Corporation, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, said climate change remains the biggest threat facing humanity and reiterates the Corporation’s commitment to investing in climate change education to drive environmental sustainability.
“Drawing from our experience in championing climate change initiatives over two decades, we have come to the realisation that there is a need to expand the knowledge base and deepen the interest of the younger generation in climate change issues if we are to stand any chance of sustaining positive impact. Hence, we are proud to be partnering NerdzFactory to launch the climate change and sustainability clubs. It is our desire to scale this pilot initiative and extend our footprint across other geo-political zones over the next few years,” she said.
Story was adapted from ThisDay.
