A non-governmental organization, Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative, MAFYEDI, has expressed its commitment to nurturing young eco-citizens, as part of efforts to conserve nature and combat climate crisis that is ravaging the world.
The organization’s Executive Director, Dr. Zainab Yaqub stated this on Thursday during a sensitisation programme at Government Community Junior Secondary School, Ganmo, Kwara State, where students were educated about environmental issues and climate change, as part of activities to mark this year’s World Environment Day.
Yaqub who is a climate justice advocate alongside an SDGs Advocate, Ahmed Adebowale discussed with the students how human-induced activities have been creating environmental problems such as deforestation, desertification, biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change.
The duo told the young learners that these environmental problems have solutions and that they must be part of the solution, and encouraged them to take simple actions to protect the environment and preserve the planet for current and future generations
At the end of the programme, the group donated trees that were planted within the school environment, highlighting the importance of trees in preserving habitats and protecting biodiversity.
Speaking on her organisation’s ‘Raising Young Eco-Citizens’ project, Yaqub said the initiative was designed to raise awareness among young individuals about environmental issues, develop their understanding of nature-related challenges and encourage them to adopt responsible and sustainable practices to preserve the environment.
The NGO boss noted that “the goal is to instill in young minds a sense of responsibility towards the environment and inspire them to take actions to protect the planet”, stressing that nature conservation and fighting climate crisis is the responsibility of everyone including the young generation
“What we are basically doing through our initiative is not just to make the children aware of environmental problems but also getting them to love, respect and take actions to protect the planet, which is our only home.
“Eco-citizenship is at the heart of the international community’s current commitments to fighting climate change, and as an organisation, we are dedicated to building responsible eco-citizens who are aware of the environmental challenges confronting their communities and the world at large, and are equipped with the knowledge to take informed decisions and actions to preserve and manage the environment,” she added.
