NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Climate Change: Plant trees rather than throw parties- NCF DG

Climate Change: Plant trees rather than throw parties- NCF DG

189 total views today

 

By Wandoo Sombo

The Director- General of Nigeria Conservative Foundation, (NCF),  Mr Joseph Onoja, has called on Nigerians to organise tree planting events to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries rather than throw lavish parties.

 

Onoja made the call on Friday in Abuja at the maiden edition of the Abuja Garden Festival against the backdrop of severe heatwave being experienced across the country.

 

He said that being intentional about tree planting by channelling resources to it would  go a long way to reduce the effects of climate change in the country.

 

“Rather than throwing parties during your anniversaries and birthdays, organise trees planting events.

 

“This is so that we will have trees around us that will be able to play the role we are supposed to play to create more resilience,  especially, in the face of climate change.

 

“In the coastal areas, we have erosions while in the North, we have desertification coming in. So, we need to have trees around us to be able to stop that from happening.”

 

Sen. Ede Dafinone, in a keynote address, said that the Federal Capital Territory had taken some steps to revamp green areas in the city.

 

“The existing trees should be protected, the initiative to plant trees in schools is a laudable initiative.

 

“The green areas must remain green areas. Resident associations, schools, faith based organisations should be encouraged regarding tree planting.

 

“Everyone deserves access to clean green space in the FCT. Planting a tree is a bold step to protect our future and Abuja should lead by example,” he said

 

Also speaking, the facilitators of the event, Mrs Eyamba Nzekwu and Mrs Nana Gbolahan, said the need to protect the environment motivated them to organise the event.

 

Nzekwu said that since Abuja was still being developed as a city with a lot of construction going on, trees were being cut down without replacement.

 

“The onus is on us as residents to improve our well-being by contributing to our environment to start planting trees.

 

“If you have a tree, the tree has a lot of benefits, it provides shade from the elements.

 

”If you have trees around your house and there is severe windstorm, the trees act as a wind breaker to break those winds from getting into your premises to destroy your roofs or your property.

 

“Some trees are even medicinal, a lot of trees are being exported from Africa for their medicinal benefits,” she said.

 

Gbolahan said that if people continue to cut down trees, the effect would be erosion, desertification, excessive heat and even some other plants would die.

 

“We need the trees to provide a protective shield for us, Abuja has been very hot and then, you also have an extreme heat that is affecting our plants in the environment.

 

“We decided to focus on the environment and get more people on board. You don’t just have to get gardeners; you need people that are affected by the climate which is everybody.

 

“This year, our focus is to plant more trees and we are starting this initiative from schools in the FCT,” she said.

 

Gbolahan added that the initiative was to complement the efforts of government as well as to get support from the government in their effort too.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by garden owners, people who sell natural flowers and other natural foods.

 

NAN also reports that seedlings were given to those who attended the event to plant and report the progress at the next festival.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Only innovation, partnership can save the climate – Expert

Only innovation, partnership can save the climate – Expert

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By Uche Anunne

An environmentalist, Chief Sam Onuigbo, says only partnership among countries and innovation into cleaner energies can save the climate from further devastating damage.

Onuigbo, former member of House of Representatives, said this on Monday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The All Progressives Congress Chieftain represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency and former chairman, House Committee on Climate Change.

“To save the environment and mitigate climate change, we have to collaborate, network and innovate. There is nothing any country can do alone.

“We must innovate and collaborate because anything that has to do with the environment is borderless,’’  Onuigbo said.

Onuigbo  sponsored Nigeria’s Climate Change Act.

Climate change has been largely blamed for some of natural disasters including flooding, desertification, drought, and the recent wild fire that ravaged parts of California, U.S.

He said the recently concluded World Future Energy Summit and 15th International Renewable Energy (IRENA) Assembly in Abu Dhabi, offered Africa can explore new areas of global partnership in renewable energy.

He said as the continent that bears the larger brunt of climate change, they also offered the continent the chance to deepen existing clean energy networks and investment opportunities.

Onuigbo said President Bola Tinubu had shown the desire for transition to clean energy such as his commitment to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project and liberalisation of the energy sector by signing the Electricity Act.

In June 2023, Tinubu, signed the Electricity Act 2023 (“The Act”), repealing the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005.

The Act empowers state governments to participate in areas previously reserved for the federal government, particularly transmission and distribution.

“The Summit offered  Mr President the opportunity to speak to the world on investment opportunities in areas as CNG and electric vehicles, the Evergreen City. There are profound declarations,’’ he told NAN.

According to the National Assembly Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame, 2019-2023, Tinubu’s clean energy initiatives are yielding results as international investors are  showing interest in Nigeria’s lithium deposits to boost battery manufacturing.

He said there was a link among poverty, food security, diseases and climate change, saying mitigating the later would help in addressing the former.

For instance, he said, access to clean electricity would enhance economic activities and their attendant multiplier effects in families` income and wellbeing.

“You cannot talk about them in isolation. When there is desertification, drought—climate change impact has implications for sources of livelihood and this engenders poverty and insecurity’’, Onuigbo told NAN.

Onuigbo is a member representing South-East, Governing Board, and Chairman Committee  on Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions, North-East Development Commission(NEDC). (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

University of Plymouth, NWRI partner to advance climate-smart agriculture

University of Plymouth, NWRI partner to advance climate-smart agriculture

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By Tosin Kolade

The University of Plymouth in the UK and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) in Kaduna, have announced a new partnership to advance research on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Nigeria and Ghana.

The announcement was made at the Soil Health for Productivity and Climate Resilience Workshop in Abuja on Thursday.

Prof. William Blake, the Director of the Sustainable Earth Institute at the University of Plymouth, stressed the importance of international collaboration toward tackling global challenges such as food security and climate change.

He said “this partnership underscores the growing importance of cross-border cooperation to address critical issues like sustainable land management and water resources.

“By focusing on Climate-Smart Agriculture, we aim to boost agricultural productivity, while adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.”

According to him, the workshop focuses on strategies to improve soil health and adopt sustainable water management practices to boost agricultural productivity and enhance climate resilience.

Blake also stressed the importance of research that supports CSA at both small and large scales, from farm to river basin, ensuring sustainability across different levels.

He added that “this collaboration is particularly important for West Africa, where shared climate challenges demand locally-adaptable solutions.

“Our goal is to develop solutions that address food security while also building resilience to climate change.”

Prof. Kevin Jones, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the Plymouth University, emphasised the institution’s long-standing commitment to addressing global challenges through practical research.

Jones noted the university’s focus on environmental sustainability, particularly in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and its ongoing work in marine and maritime sectors.

He also emphasised the importance of scientific and technological advances in ensuring sustainable agriculture for the future.

This, he said, include focusing on soil health, ensuring productive crops and knowledge sharing to tackle environmental issues globally.

Jones also identified Nigeria as key partner in these efforts, pointing out the potential for UK-Nigeria collaboration to produce innovative solutions with global applications.

He said “global partnerships are crucial for the future. The challenges we face today are global in nature, and we need to bring together the best expertise from around the world to ensure the planet’s future is in good hands.”

Dr Omogbemi Yaya, the Director of the Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management at NWRI, explained that the partnership is supported by the UNESCO-affiliated Regional Centre for Integrated Rural Business Management.

He said the collaboration would focus on shared priorities, including rural business management, capacity building and sustainable development, with emphasis on research and teaching.

He added that “this strategic partnership between NWRI and the University of Plymouth will leverage the strength of both institutions in water resources and academic research.

“Our goal is to collaborate on research that addresses key challenges faced by rural communities.

“The partnership reflects the institute’s commitment to global collaborations and supports the university’s mission to influence sustainable development.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop brought together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to discuss strategies toward
tackling food security and climate resilience in West Africa.

The partnership is funded with £30,000 under the Innovate UK Scoping Project for Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnerships: UK-Brazil-Africa.

The National Water Resources Institute, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, was established in 1979.

It is tasked with training and retraining water engineers, technologists and technicians in the water resources sector. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)


Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

We need local solutions to Climate Change challenges- Pate

We need local solutions to Climate Change challenges- Pate

675 total views today

 

By Folasade Akpan

Prof. Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has emphasised the need for localised solutions to address the consequences of climate change.

 

Pate said this on Thursday in Abuja at the 10th edition of the Future of Health Conference, organised by Nigeria Health Watch.

 

The theme of the conference is “From Evidence to Action: Building Resilience at the Climate-Health Nexus”.

 

Pate stressed that Nigeria’s unique challenges required tailored responses and effective leveraging of available resources.

 

The minister highlighted Nigeria’s struggles with climate-related disruptions, including flooding and droughts, which have led to a surge in climate-sensitive diseases.

 

“Climate change affects not only infectious diseases but also non-communicable diseases like respiratory issues and cardiovascular conditions, now the fastest-growing health burden in Nigeria.

 

“The adverse effects on food systems, leading to malnutrition and food insecurity, are also a major concern.”

 

Tamer Rabie, Global Programme Lead for Climate and Health at the World Bank, acknowledged Nigeria’s progress but noted that results were yet to be seen.

 

He remained hopeful that the country was moving in the right direction to support the most vulnerable populations.

 

The Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Mrs Vivianne lhekweazu, said that the theme for the 2024 conference was borne out of a need to ensure that Nigerians better understand that climate change was not a theoretical concept.

 

“It is a fundamental concept and also, we want Nigerians to understand what climate change is.

 

“We often wonder whether the language used for climate change is obscure, but quite frankly, most people can relate to the climate impact.”

 

She said that discussions would be around changing climate patterns and the impact they would have on response to future vaccines in Nigeria.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Future of Health Conference which began in 2015, provides a platform to engage stakeholders across the health ecosystem to tackle pressing issues facing the sector and providing solutions. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

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