Determined to reduce rapid deforestation, carbon emissions and promoting alternative energy sources in rural communities, a non governmental organization (NGO), Save the Earth Initiative (SEI) with support from Global GreenGrants Funds (GGF) has taken an environmental campaign to schools in Cross River state.
The project which is a pilot scheme, commenced on Monday, May 18 and 19 respectively in two schools with the establishment of Environmental Friendly Clubs in Jehovah Shalom African Secondary School in Esuk Ekpo Eyo and Government Primary School, Ikot Okon Okpo in Akpabuyo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The project, seeks to: “Mobilize Students and communities on the importance of forest conservation, Reduce deforestation of mangrove forests, Contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation, Reduce the vulnerability of the community to coastal erosion and the Establish Environmental Clubs in Schools”.
READ ALSO: Cross River Positions to Become Yam Hub as 2026 Farming Season Flags Off
While inaugurating the clubs, the Project Coordinator, Victoria Ukpong, charged the children to take issues of environment seriously as they are now to serve as “environmental ambassadors to reach out to others and even the elderlies, propagate the environmental club in schools in their communities, even in churches”.
In an interview, she said that the establishment of environmental friendly club is “basically among children of primary schools where children would be thought on how best to be environmental friendly from an early age and to let them know the importance of preserving our environment and the need to cultivate the habit of planting trees in the environment”.
Ukpong said the organization has decided to start the club in the two schools for obvious reasons and being situated in a coastal environment. She disclosed that the NGO has over the years partnered with several other organizations to implement activities on environmental education and people centered projects, maintaining that SEI is to work for the sustainability of rural communities to promote and protect the environment.
On her part, the Program Coordinator, Ekei Joseph Offiong said, the project “is a pilot scheme in the two schools in the state and we intend to extend it to other forest and coastal communities in the state to ensure that the problem of deforestation, carbon emissions and others are reduced.“
The project, according to her, aims to contribute to knowledge gain for school students and pupils in Forest communities through establishment of environmental clubs, awareness creation on climate change as well as reduction in carbon emission through tree planting in schools.
She said, “SEI Mission is to work for the promotion of environmental protection and socio-economic sustainability in rural communities in Nigeria, aimed at poverty reduction through education, information sharing, research, training and direct programme interventions.”
Thrilled with the establishment of the Environmental Club and making the pioneer ambassadors, the select school children, said they will start the campaign of tree planting and encourage others to do same.
They promised to embrace it, learn and gain knowledge so that they will have the capacity to take the campaign of protecting the environment among their peers and their communities.
They carried placards some of which read: “fight deforestation, stop climate change; stop deforestation fight climate change, support environmental sustainability.“
