Pupils of Junior Secondary School Gwagwalada, Abuja, have urged citizens and the government to protect the environment against climate change by planting trees to safeguard the environment from the impact of storms and winds.
The students, who are climate change advocates, explained that there was a need for the Federal Government to enact a law to prohibit indiscriminate felling of trees.
Speaking, one of the pupils, Iduh Rejoice, who is a member of the Child Rights Advocacy Club, put together by Humanitarian organisation, Save the Children International Nigeria, called on government to enforce a law to stop improper disposal of refuse and other unhealthy practise that negatively affect the environment including demolition of houses blocking water ways.
During a visit to the school, the CRAC held a panel discussion about the impact of climate change on children’s nutrition and well-being on the topic ‘Climate Change Impact on Nutrition, Health and Well-being’.
Another climate change advocate and pupil of JSS, Gwagwalada, Amen Magaji, said, “Why we are advocating for tree planting as part of major measures that would mitigate impact of climate change on our environment.
“We in JSS Gwagwalada are set to plant trees here and also in our premises where we live. The essence of tree planting is to reduce the impact of storms and winds affecting roofs of our school buildings. Some of our classroom blocks were damaged as a result of storms and winds occasioned by climate change.”
Also, a member of CRAC, JSS, Gwagwalada, Chukwuemeka Destiny, said: “We call on philanthropists, Government and individuals to take it upon themselves to ensure more trees are planted across the country and also schools should form alliances to plant trees.
“We in JSS Gwagwalada have been planting trees to reduce the impact of climate change in order to safeguard our school buildings from the impact of storms.”
The Principal, JSS, Gwagwalada, Florence Okonkwo, laued Save the Children International Nigeria for dissecting topical issues that affected children, women and the environment.
She said, “I listened to the presentation of the students and you can see that they are adequately and properly informed. These are the leaders of tomorrow so it is going to influence the decisions they’re going to be taking about the environment.”
The Advocacy and Campaign Officer, Save the Children International, Nigeria, Sharon Obijiofo said, “Climate change has been evident in the continent through the rise of temperature; more frequent extreme weather, variable rainfall, rise in sea level and flooding, drought and desertification, land degradation; affected freshwater resources and loss of biodiversity, among others.”
The duration and intensities of rainfall have increased, producing large runoffs and flooding in many places in Nigeria.”
