Group Tells Govt to Integrate Environmental Sustainability into School Curriculum

A group of stakeholders in the environment sector has called on all levels of government to urgently engage young people and implement policy reforms that will embed environmental sustainability into the primary and secondary school curriculum, among other measures, to secure a sustainable future.

The call was made during the Lifestyle Futures Forum organized by the non-governmental organization, For Nature, For Future Eco-Geo Green Initiative, held to mark its one-year anniversary and to present Eco-Green Club awards to outstanding individuals.

The event took place at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

As part of the celebration, the organization led a tree planting exercise at the Oyo NUJ Press Centre, with participation from the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Demola Babalola, and officials of the Niyi Ogungbade Foundation.

Comrade Babalola, in his remarks, praised the tree planting initiative and expressed hope for more such activities across the state, communities, and society at large.

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He encouraged public support for the initiative to help achieve a greener and safer environment.

During a panel session at the event, Creative Director of the Waste Museum, Ibadan, Mrs. Jumoke Olowookere, emphasized the need for the government to implement policies that would mandate the inclusion of environmental sustainability in the curricula of primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.

Olowookere while also charging the government to take the issue of the environment more seriously, noted that the action will help in bridging the gap in policy and governance especially in the area of environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

Another discussant, Victor Oyejide, co-op founder, RecycleEdge harps on the importance of youth engagement in the advocacy for environmental sustainability and economic resilience of the society.

He emphasized on the need to get more youth engaged in waste collection and recycling and attending industry events to get the needed education and opportunities that abound in waste recycling.

In his position, the Founder, CEID Hub, Mr Sope Afolayan who stressed the need for collaboration among relevant stakeholders in the sector, also called for enabling laws that will empower women and equip them with skills that will bring out the best in them.

Earlier in a keynote address on the theme of the occasion, titled: “Sustainable Futures: Advancing Environmental and Economic Resilience In a Changing World”, the special guest and Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdul-Mojeed Mogbonjubola expressed the state government’s readiness to partner with the private sector towards ensuring environmental and economic resilience environment for the citizenry.

The Commissioner who was represented by Mr. Gbenjo Abimbola called on other private sectors, civil society organizations and communities to join hands with the state government in this regard

He said, “We strongly believe that environmental resilience requires collaborations with private sectors , civil societies and citizenry engagement. The Ministry of Environment will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to have nature based solutions to develop the state.”

He commended the NGO, For Nature For Future Initiative for carrying out tree planting and sensitization programs in schools saying it is an effort the Oyo State government will continue to support

The Founder, For Nature, For Future Eco-Green Initiative , Mr Elijah Adejimi said the initiative is environment driven which focuses on creating the consciousness in the society on how we can safeguard our environment and live sustainably to make the world a better place to be.

He said, “This year’s celebration is to highlight what we have done in the last one year, impact project that spans the area of advocacy, educational outreaches to school children and particularly, the community tree planting drive which caters for community engagement tasks to take stewardship and responsibilities for the environment.”

He stated that the tree planting exercise is part of the organization’s efforts at safeguarding the environment against the adverse effects of climate change to ensure that the green spaces are restored

“It’s a reafforestation program for our communities especially, urban communities. As we are felling down trees, we should ensure we replant as many as we can. We call it roots for the future, we believe that if we can enjoy now, we must not deprive the future generations the opportunity to enjoy the same. All these will eventually count in the future.

“Part of our anniversary program is to bring people together to interact and steer up conversations in a way that we can begin to have forward thinking solutions to the many environmental crises particularly those that touches on our health.

“In the last one year, we have been able to raise a community of individuals who are conscious of the environment, equiped with knowledge and how best to safeguard the environment and also how best to live sustainably in a way and manner that would enhance the wellness of our environment.

“We have also been able to touch on the lives of children, we had the opportunity of bringing climate change education to them across schools in Ibadan and brought them together in what we called “Young Leaders Sustainability Training ” where they had trainings on how to recycle waste

“We look forward into another one year of community impact particularly in the area of community drive where we will ensure the entire community and society are engaged in activities that will enhance the wellness of the environment.

“One major program we look forward to is the Oyo State plastic drive which will focus on Ibadan less city”, he added.

Similarly, the co-founder of the organization, Adekunle Adetiloye noted that since the inauguration of the organization on March 16, 2024, the organization, which he said is out to promote environmental sustainability through education, community engagement and advocacy had embarked on tree planting and advocacy in schools saying that the organisation will continue to expand its scope towards advancing environmental and economic resilience in the society.

According to him, educating the people on environment will help them place value on the environment and how to preserve it.