A foremost environmentalist, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, in partnership with Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI) Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD) and Eco-Cyclers is organising a 2-day free training for young climate advocates in Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State, Nigeria.
The training seeks to raise awareness about the problems of air pollution, deforestation, and climate change as well as highlight the importance of urban space greening, in order to encourage young people to key into the advocacy for climate action.
Speaking on the upcoming event, the convener, who is also the Chair of SPP and Director, AE-FUNAI CCCD, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, said that the aim of the training is to empower young and upcoming climate leaders to become more skilled and effective campaigners for climate action.
He stated that the training is specifically targeted at high school students, whom he said are better positioned to drive the climate change campaign among the younger generation and ensure the security and sustainability of a future environment that would be greener and healthier.
Okereke emphasized that the training will give young climate leaders insight into the topic of urban air pollution and the contribution of urban space greening in addressing the challenges of climate change and air pollution in cities.
He expressed optimism that the climate education event will raise a community and network of climate leaders who would advance and expand the reach of the climate action advocacy as well as become solvers of environment-related problems in the near future.
The SPP Chair also noted that the training will provide a platform for young people to lend their voices to the call for government and other stakeholders to expedite actions towards combating and mitigating the effects of climate change in our society.
According to him, the 2-day event will feature series of activities including lecture sessions, random air quality measurements and tree planting exercise in selected secondary schools within Enugu metropolis.
The training is an International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) Impact Award funded by the United States Department of States with Meridian International as their implementing partner.
It is billed to hold between Tuesday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
