On Wednesday, the Lagos State Government ordered Environmental School Teachers, who oversee the Environmental Bees Club in schools throughout the State, to become agents of positive environmental change.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, spoke at the opening ceremony of a three-day Symposium and Nature excursion held at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Building in Olowopopo, Ikeja. He emphasised the Lagos State Government’s sustainable development plan with an emphasis on youth engagement through effective participation for a sustainable lifestyle.
Gaji, who was represented at the occasion by the Director of the Environmental Assessment Department, Dr. Olasunkanmi Sojinu, stated that a commitment to Unlearn, Learn, and Relearn attitudes towards effective greener activities is necessary for a sustainable existence.
He added that the Environmental Bees Club was established to foster a great collaborative initiative aimed at addressing environmental concerns and promoting a sustainable environment.
The Permanent Secretary stated that environmental problems are created by human actions that result in significant changes to the natural world that have profound effects on human existence.
He instructed the handlers of the Environmental Bees Club to guarantee that students are exposed to practical knowledge regarding global environmental challenges and the best environmental practises implemented by foreign communities to mitigate the consequences of environmental degradation.
Gaji disclosed that the three-day Symposium and Nature Conservation Excursion will include visits to government institutions and commercial organisations partnering to achieve environmental sustainability.
In her presentation on Waste Recycling and Upcycling project development for economic empowerment in schools, the Chief Executive Director of FABE International, Mrs. Temitope Okunnu, stated that a great deal could be made from non-biodegradable materials such as Plastics, Nylon, and Used Tires through recycling, upcycling, and reusing.
In her second lecture, Mrs. Aisha Titilola Kareem-Arnold discussed Climate Change Action and Youth Engagement for Sustainable Lifestyle, concentrating on how climate change affects humanity.
While stressing that every person must participate in the climate action plan, she emphasised the need to do things differently by abandoning the usage of fossil fuels and working to limit the quantity of carbon emissions discharged into the atmosphere.
Teachers from both private and public schools participating in the Symposium and Nature Conservation Excursion will visit the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).