Speeches

Launch Of Climate Change Club In Lagos State Schools

Mar 20, 2009 - Exactly a year ago today, we sowed the seed of the Climate Change Clubs in Lagos State schools to motivate and empower our school children to be part of the solution to one of the greatest challenges confronting human society. It is a source of joy and fulfillment for all of us that this seed sown one year ago has germinated and is blossoming towards an even more successful future.

I am elated that the Climate Change Clubs have facilitated greater interest in and understanding of our environment by students. They have enabled our children to become very active and effective participants in the campaign against acts and deeds that contribute to global warming and consequently Climate Change.

Our establishment of the Climate Change Clubs is an affirmation of faith in our children as critical stakeholders in the society. It is a demonstration of our commitment to empowering the youth with the requisite knowledge and opportunities to begin to play leadership roles in the society today and not tomorrow.

I am indeed proud to learn that 85% of you want Climate Change to be included in the school curriculum and taught as a subject. This enthusiasm confirms that our confidence in the effectiveness of young people as positive change agents is not misplaced. Not only are young people always curious and eager to learn new things; they are equally keen to share new knowledge and information with other people thus helping to influence desired changes in the home and among their peers.

Our Administration will continue to tap into the energy, resourcefulness, inquisitiveness and enthusiasm of young people by creating more opportunities to bring the best out of you and see you compete favourably with your peers the world over not only on issues of Climate Change or the Environment but in all spheres of human endeavour.

The successful dramatization of Al-Gore’s documentary on Climate Change by your colleagues shows that you have a full grasp of the issues at stake and what to do to reverse the trend. I am sure that you all have enjoyed the video watched and learnt some more lessons which I expect you to take home to friends, peers, parents and relations.

I have directed that the video be taken round all the schools in the State so that your colleagues who are not here today will have the opportunity to watch and learn from it. In addition, I have directed that the video be mass produced and distributed to schools and other relevant organizations to make its content available to a wider audience.

Of course, we are not leaving the battle against global warming to our youths alone. It is a cause to which every member of the society must be committed because we are all involved. All of you would have noticed the tremendous change we are bringing about in the physical landscape of our dear State. The plants and trees you see all around are not only to beautify the State; they are targeted at mitigating the effects of global warming as they consume carbon and replenish the air with oxygen.

You may also have noticed that we have started replacing street lights with solar powered ones which have smaller carbon foot print. The strategy is to move towards a clean and renewable energy and conserve power from electricity and fossil fuels.

Our waste management has become appreciably more efficient as evident in our cleaner highways, roads and streets. This onerous effort has created jobs and it is attracting investments and promoting tourism. I am glad to inform you that today we are commissioning 500 pieces of School Advocacy Sorting Bins for our advocacy programme. This is distinct from the over 2000 bins already distributed to schools for waste management.

The sanitary and greening habits encouraged and strengthened by the Climate Change Clubs are to be complemented by a culture of sorting our refuse at source. The Bins have been so made to have receptacles for glass, paper and metal. It is expected that this culture will have a positive impact on the mode of waste disposal in all homes especially through young members of the family who are very influential agents of change. This will also help a lot in our drive to recycle and convert waste to wealth by reusing them.

To further create awareness through public education, we are hosting the maiden international Lagos Summit on Climate Change from March 24th to 26th 2009. The summit will be a gathering of top government functionaries at all levels, Federal, State and Local, Captains of industry, NGO’s as well as other stakeholders.

Seasoned experts on Climate change from across the globe will share knowledge and information at the summit. The various plenary sessions, panel discussions and film shows will help reinforce the message of Climate change and the dangers it poses to humanity. It is expected that after the State summit, Local Governments would organize their own versions at the Local Government level where they will enlighten and educate Traditional rulers, Community leaders, Community Development Associations, Artisans and Market men and women to on issues of global warming and climate change.

We also intend to collaborate with the Bill Clinton Foundation on Climate Change and ECOWAS to organize the West African Sub-Regional summit on Climate Change in no distant future. These sustained efforts will raise popular awareness on the dangers of Climate Change and the urgent need to embrace available mitigation and adaptation measures to save mother earth from the threats of global warming.

The challenge of saving and preserving our environment will greatly task our intellect, ingenuity and creativity. It is an exciting venture, which we must all embrace with enthusiasm and determination. In particular, I implore our future leaders to continue to be steadfast and committed in this fight to preserve mother earth for posterity. This is the only way to guarantee that future generations live a peaceful place on earth.

I would like to conclude this address by making a public appeal to all property owners in Lagos State, whether they be individuals, corporations or Governments to complement our efforts by painting the exterior of all their buildings especially those on the highways like Ikorodu Road, Marina, Bar Beach Waterfront, to mention but a few. Not only does this add to the aesthetics of our buildings, it creates jobs for painters, artisans, paint makers and many more and keeps the economy alive as we need to do in these challenging times and of course adds value to the property.

I thank you all for listening and wish you happy celebrations.

Eko o ni baje o.

Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)
Governor of Lagos State