Solomon Attah,Lafia
A faith based Non-governmental Organization, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), in collaboration with the Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria says, it would establish climate change club in some secondary schools in Nasarawa State.
Ango Adamu, the Executive Secretary YMCA, Mada Hills disclosed this during inter-schools debate on impacts of climate change in Lafia.
Adamu said that, the establishment of the club would increase climate change campaign in the state.
According to him, the campaign against climate change in the secondary schools will disabuse the contrary perceptions among the students and the teachers as to whether or not climate change is real.
“Today, we are in the Nasarawa south senatorial zone in continuation of the school debate on climate change to expose ignorance and myth people have about climate change.
“We want the people of the state to be aware especially those who have some believes and myths that the climate change does not exist to know that is real.
“We count on you to step down this awareness in your schools. We also want to establish climate change club in these two schools for a start.
“The schools are Aunty Dele College, Shinge, Lafia and ERCC Calvary Secondary School, Bukan Sidi, Lafia.
“We will continue to collaborate and work with you in our next year programmes as we continue in the fight against climate change,” he said.
He said that the YMCA had organised similar inter-school debate in the west and north senatorial zones where students and teachers alike turned out in large numbers to witness.
He explained that, the school debate programme was part of activities of the African Activists for Climate Justice Project (AACJ) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and carried out by OXFAM through the YMCA.
Adamu said, AACJ is a Pan Africa project that is being implemented in Nigeria of which Nassarawa State is a beneficiary.
“The goal of the project is to amplify and unite the voices of Africans, demanding that the most vulnerable groups; women, youths and local indigenous communities in the target countries have the capacity to defend and realise their human rights.
“And also live a decent and dignify life in a healthy and sustainable environment within the context of climate emergency,” he said.
Ephraim Agbashim, Principal, Aunty Dele College, Shinge, Lafia thanked the YMCA for organising the debate, adding that it would enlighten students more about the climate change.
Also speaking, Obadiah-Ewuga Akpu, Principal, ERCC Calvary Secondary School, Bukan Sidi, Lafia, appreciated the YMCA and partners for sustaining effort in combating climate change and noted that the debate would equip students and teachers with more knowledge on climate change.
