Report On World Environment Day, 2024 By BlueGreenISDN With The Support From Csdevnet In Akwa Ibom State

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World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5th, serves as a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on pressing environmental issues. In the face of escalating climate change and biodiversity loss, it is crucial to engage communities, particularly the younger generation, in environmental conservation efforts.

The 2024 theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience” (Our Land, Our Future, We are Generation Restoration), emphasizes the collective action needed to restore land and ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and combat climate change. This year’s theme highlights the importance of involving young people in efforts to restore the land. Trees play a key role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, stabilizing soil, and providing a habitat for biodiversity.

During this year’s celebration, the Green School Club was established and inaugurated with five executive members appointed by the school principal. The club members will serve as eco-ambassadors and environmental watchdogs for the school and immediate community, promoting character reformation and leading by example among their peers.

A Cross section of Green School Club Nkek Standard Schools, Ukanafun LGA, Akwa Ibom State

The Executive Director of BlueGreenISDN, Mr. Ediongsenyene Ndunobong, led the school staff and students in a symbolic tree planting ceremony to mark World Environment Day 2024. The principal, Mr. Nsikak Udoudo, along with members of staff, Green School Club members, and other students participated in the exercise.

Objectives:

  1. To commemorate World Environment Day by organizing a tree planting initiative aimed at increasing green cover and raising awareness about environmental conservation.
  2. To provide climate education to school children, fostering a sense of responsibility toward the environment and empowering them to become advocates for sustainability.

Location of Project:
This project was carried out at Nkek Standard Schools, Ukanafun LGA, Akwa Ibom State. The change in location was necessitated by uncertainties surrounding the nationwide strike action embarked upon by labor unions in Nigeria.

Project Outcomes/Impacts:
The following outcomes/impacts were achieved from the project:

  1. One hundred and twenty-nine (129) students became climate literate through climate education.
  2. Thirty (30) seedlings of economic trees were donated to and planted in the school.
  3. A plot of land was donated by the school management for the agroecological garden.
  4. The Green School Club was officially inaugurated.

A Student of Nkek Standard Schools, Ukanafun LGA, Akwa Ibom State Planting seedling of Economic tree

Conclusion
“Generation Restoration,” one of the slogans for this year’s World Environment Day, underscores the importance of recruiting and training young people to become climate champions. This is vital because the future we once spoke of is now upon us, and it is up to today’s youth to create the future they envision.

This initiative demonstrates the core of our engagement with students and emphasizes the practical steps they can take to combat climate change. Through this and continued engagement via the Green School Club, we are confident that these students will become part of the change and solutions we all seek, rather than part of the problem.