On the 30th
of May, 2014 saw the inauguration of the newly elected executives of Federal
University of Petroleum Resources Chapter of the Students Environmental
Assembly Nigeria, at their organized workshop that was tagged pioneering environmental justices which
started at 12.20pm. The same event marked the graduation ceremony of some of
the out gone executives whom were honoured with an environmental stewardship
certificates for being members of SEAN.
In his opening
speech the out gone Coordinator, Yakubu M. Praise thanked all the participants
for their presence. He noted that SEAN has made him very useful to the society,
that serving in SEAN as a coordinator exposed him to different personalities
and different issues. He thanked Barr. Chima Williams for not allowing this vision
of SEAN dies a natural death as at the time the vision came to him. He also
thanked Ubrei-Joe, M. Mariere for selling this idea to his predecessor Osigbeme
Irene who was the pioneer coordinator of SEAN FUPRE. Yakubu did not end it
there but went on to also thank Prof. Rim Ruke, Engr. (Dr) Ofulagba for their
roles as staff advisers and support for the programme. The former coordinator
urged the new executives to be dedicated to the struggles for environmental
justice and also discharge their duties effectively.
Dr. (Mrs)
Ogheleka of Chemistry department in FUPRE, in her Goodwill message, she urged
all the participants to treat the environment fairly because the environment
gives back to us what we give to it. Our attitude towards to environment is
poor said Mrs Ogheleka. She also noted that we are taking from the environment
more than what it can replenish. Speaking further she said that people have
refused to tell the truth most especially the government and Multinational Corporations
that drilled oil from the environment to a state of no repairs. She also
lamented the attitude of the Corporations towards the environment and to researchers
that want to offer help to the environment through research. She said that
Shell has refused them access to data an act Shell described as a way of
indicting their integrity.
The first
Speaker Mr. Titigbe Onyeka of SEAN DELSU who is the current Coordinator of the
Unit gave an exposition into what SEAN is all about, its activities, mission
statement, aim and its work. He noted that ADVOCACY is the only weapon SEAN
uses for her work and he noted also that the tactics of SEAN are sensitizing,
campaigning, petitioning, mobilizing, pressurizing, informing and negotiating.
Speaking further, Onyeka noted that the reasons why we advocate in SEAN is that we are dissatisfy with the state of our
environment, dissatisfaction with the impunity in our environment and also
dissatisfaction with the dislocation of our people from their resources and
their environment. Titgbe noted also that all members of SEAN must use the SWOT
analysis to analyze the effective of their campaigns to make corrections when
necessary. He concluded by saying that before SEAN meeting commences there is need
to asked the following questions to know if all the people present are in
conformity with the vision of SEAN. Do you believe in the conservation,
preservation, protection and sustainability of the environment? Do you
understand that the Eco-system is a human Eco-system? Does it occur to you that
you have the rights to a protected environment? Do you agree that an
environmental right is the foundation of every other rights? Do you know that
you can contribute towards the preservation and sustainability of the
environment?
The HOD of
Environmental Science of FUPRE, Dr. Christopher Onosemuode gave a mind blowing
presentation. In addressing the students on the topic tagged Environmental
Heritage, he noted that this social aspect of the environment is what promotes
the culture of environmental protection in our society today. He said
environmental heritage
refers to people’s connection to the land and how their own cultural heritage
is tied to the geography they inhabit. Speaking further he also said that the
land provides natural resources needed for survival and people need to plant
crops, farm and collect water in order to keep on living. Dr. Christopher noted
that the dynamics of environmental heritage are Environmental Determinism,
Environmental Possibilism, and Environmental Determinisim. Explaining further
he said environmental determinism stands for what the environment dictate to
us. Environmental Possibilism entails what man dictate to the environment. Environmental
Probabilism is what the environment dictates to man and at the same time man
dictates to the environment as well. He further noted that Environmental Probabilism
is the aspect that brought about technological advancement where man can tend
to adjust to environmental changes. He cited a case of rain and how man made umbrella
and rain coat to adjust to these changes in the environmental. Another example
he gave was the ability of to clean up an oil spill from the environment.
Concluding Dr. Christopher urged the students to be studious in
their studies and invest their time and energy in developing technological skills
that can contribute to saving the environment.
A playlet followed
immediately after the presentation of Dr.
Christopher.
The two minutes drama showed to participants that the reason why our
environment is dirty is because of the culture, attitude and orientation of
people. It also revealed that if people can change their orientation about the way
they treat the environment, then the environment will be safer.
The third presentation,
The State of the Niger Delta
Environment: The Role of the Youths was taken by Ubrei-Joe M. Mariere,
Project Assistant Democracy Outreach of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of
the Earth Nigeria and former National Coordinator Students Environmental
Assembly Nigeria. He began by saying that so delighted to have been saddled
with this responsibility to take the key note address at this great meeting
where another sets of graduates from the youth plat form for environmental
justice “Students Environmental Assembly, Nigeria” will be given the mantle of
representation to dish out what they have acquired from this great body to the
society. Mariere also said that “One thing that has pushed us into pursuing
this cause we fight for is the Niger Delta question is the massive degradation
of the region which led to great resistance by some activist who later gave
their lives to the struggle for a better, safe and productive Niger Delta”. He noted
that Niger Delta region of Nigeria is one of the most blessed deltas in the
world, in human, material and natural resources. To further buttress his point he noted that the
Niger Delta region is made up of 9 States of the Nigerian Federation namely
Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa. Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers
States. These States collectively made up of a population of about 20 million
people.
Speaking further the
former National Coordinator of SEAN pointed out that “what the degradation in this region has caused are poor condition of life,
unemployment, rape and prostitution, environmental
damages, sudden and disastrous
deaths, breeding ground for criminality, bribery and corruption, violence against women, drop out from school (Most especially girls),
and youth restiveness”.
Ubrei-Joe, also said that youth have both special concerns and special
responsibilities in relation to the environment and that a number of
environmental risks and hazards disproportionately affect young people, who
have to live for an extended period with the deteriorating environment
bequeathed to them by earlier generations.
Speaking further Mariere said that the contributions of young people in
helping to address the Niger Delta Environmental Problem range from, advocacy, public enlightenment, research to actual
demonstration for the protection of vital environmental resources, planting
trees or getting involved in the development of solar technologies, get into
government, take leadership roles, rallies/campaigns, field trips, and also reading
wide.
In concluding his presentation, Ubrei-Joe said that this struggle will be
empowers young people to engage in new forms of action and activism that will
generate effective responses to ecological challenges and noted also that trainings
and capacity building workshops has helped in awareness creation in institutions of
higher learning and communities where youth are important instruments for
development. He urged young people to go into politics and take leadership roles
and also strive to implement the above recommendations for effective campaign
to save the Niger Delta Environment.
Atake Enade
Cadmus, former Environmental Campaigner in-Chief of SEAN DELSU chapter and
currently a staff of Health of Mother Earth Foundation took the forth presentation
on the topic “Environmental Advocacy”. Speaking he noted that advocacy represents the series of actions taken and issues
highlighted to fight for a particular cause that will help the less privileged.
He also said that Environmental Advocacy involves both protecting the public
from environmental hazards and protecting the natural world and that advocates
organize a group around a cause and work to implement changes that have a
lasting and positive effect. Cadmus also the following budget advocacy, health advocacy,
ideological advocacy, interest-group advocacy, legislative advocacy, media advocacy,
and special education advocacy as the different types of advocacy.
The former campaigner of SEAN in DELSU further stated that,
an environmental advocate is someone who speaks on behalf of the environment,
someone with the interest of the environment at heart, he preserve, conserve
and defend and fight for the right of the environment. And stated also that the
reasons why we advocate for the environment is to preserve, conserve and
protect the environment for sustainability sake from degradation and pollution,
advocacy in all its forms seeks to ensure that people, particularly those who
are most vulnerable in society, are able to have their voices heard on issues
that are important to them, defend and Safeguard their rights, Have their views
and wishes genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives
and the environment. Atake said that the tools of advocacy are, the use of
Social Media, enlightenment campaigns and seminars to educate the people on
their basic environmental rights, media campaigns, public speaking,
commissioning and publishing research or conducting exit, lobbying (often by
lobby groups) is a form of advocacy where a direct approach is made to
legislators on an issue which plays a significant role in modern politics or in
the struggle for Environmental Justice.
Atake noted also that for one to become an environmental advocate
one must choose a cause, join an activist group, get involved, and rally others
to your cause. In Conclusion, Cadmus urged all the participants to identify
with SEAN to become an environmental advocate. He also urged the students to always
be studious in order to be outstanding in the struggle for environmental justice.
Questions and Answers Section
Some of the questions
that came from the participants are:
- Since Oil is causing a lot of havoc what can be done to conserve it?
- Now you said oil companies are irresponsible, what is your advice for young people like us? Are you saying we should not work with oil companies and if we do what should be our roles?
Answer
Q1: The possible
way of conserving the oil is to leave the oil in the soil.
Q2: There is
speedy transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy and oil business will no
longer be lucrative. So my advice is for young people to seek cleaner and
greener jobs that can be sustainable and environmental friendly. The only way one
can influence the Oil measures as their staff is when you are at the head of
affairs not as a junior worker because the reward of any resistance against
ones employer is sack.
Inauguration
The newly
executive were invited for inauguration. During the inauguration Ubrei-Joe
noted that the inauguration marked his second inauguration of executive of SEAN
FUPRE first as the National Coordinator in 2011 and second as a staff of
ERA/FoEN. He also said that the tempo has been so high and urged the new
executive not to bring down the temple and the solid foundation Irene and
Yakubu have laid down but to build on it. On that noted Mariere inaugurated the
executive and invited Yakubu to do a proper handing over.
After the inauguration, Environmental Stewardship Certificates were presented to the graduated members of SEAN. The certificate signifies reward for been an advocate for a save environment.
The new
executives can be found below.
- Miss Ennyinaya Melody Coordinator
- Mr. Isaiah Obaro Wilson Deputy-Coordinator
- Miss Araenye Ifeoma Secretary General
- Mr. Anamandi Abednego Environmental Campaigner In-Chief
- Mr. Akande Nurudeen Financial Secretary
- Mr. Azubuike Christopher Programmes Director 1
- Mr. Augoye Godswill Programmes Director 11
- Mr. Taidy Christian Sanitation Officer
- Miss Nwanna Jacinta Ass. Secretary General
Vote of thanks
and closing prayer were said at 3.30 pm.
