by By Efa Sunday
In pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (13), (14), and (15) and as a follow-up to agreement reached at the recent UN Paris Climate Convention by countries of the world to limit planetary heating to 1.5 degrees, the United Nations Internation Children’s Emergency Funds (UNICEF ) has swiftly taken action in Nigeria, with it’s most recent launch of a 3-day save the planet campaign ongoing in Calabar, Cross River State.The event which is scheduled to run from 3rd of April 2025 to 5th of April 2025 is tagged “Tides of Change: Young Voices For a Greener Coast”.
The 3 days event is spearheaded by UNICEF in collaboration with other organizations such as the University of Calabar, Green rising, GenUnlimited, YPAT and it’s implementing partner Plogging.Speaking at the day one of the event which took place at UNICAL Community Hall, Calabar, the UNICEF WASH specialist, Enugu Office, Mrs Rebecca Bolatito- Gabriel, appreciated the Cross River State government through the Ministry of Environment for their consistent support towards initiatives such as the Green Rising.
Mrs Gabriel assured all that “UNICEF remains committed to ensuring that the environment is kept safe and livable”, even as she names “pneumonia, respiratory infection, asthma and birth defects” as some diseases children are at risk of due to environmental pollution. She called on all to be involved in saving the planet, explaining that human activities such as indiscriminate plastics dumping have continued to hamper the safety of the planet and these activities according to her “have continuously depleted the zone layers, leading to rising sea levels, droughts, rising temperature and so on.”
Speaking on behalf of the implementing partner, the Executive Director of Plogging Nigeria, Mr Muyiwa Iyamolere cautioned that since all things are made from the environment including humans, we must therefore do all we can to protect the environment. In his words; “humans use and litter plastics and then discard indiscriminately. These plastics take hundreds of years to decompose. The very first plastic that was made has not yet decomposed. These wastes stay on land, leading to erosion. They find their way to water bodies, destroying aquatic life, and some get air borne, posing series health risk.”
On the issue of deforestation, he urged Nigerians to “plan systematically before felling trees”, adding that ” abysmal tree cutting without systematic planning leads to soil, erosion, habitat loss and reduce oxygen generation.”As a call to action, the environmentalist implored all to refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover wastes instead of littering the environment with them, while equally calling on all, especially government to plant more economic tress to replace any tree that is fell, and to also reduce the usage of tree products.
Plogging Nigeria is a youth driven organization saddled with a mission to promote sustainable environmental interactions. On the other hand the representative of Hon. Moses Osogi, the State Commissioner of Environment, Mr. Sonigitu Asibong Ekpe revealed that the government is committed to embracing a green and eco-friendly economy, adding that it is on the verge of launching an Environmental Policy.
“On June 5, 2025, the State Government will be launching an Environmental Policy. But the greatest challenge we have now is knowledge gap. We have lots of graduates, but we need people who are well equipped with vital environmental knowledge that can help pass this advocacy message across to as many people. On the environmental programs of the government, he further revealed that “the government has secured the federal government’s backings to carry out a feasibility study on eco-plan to the tune of 35 million Euros to be funded on equity along Lafarge evacuation corridor.”
The event features special upcycling workshop, participants breakout discussions, presentation of certifications and resolutions from breakout discussions as well as photography sessions.
