By Rasheeda Oladele
Africa’s leading environment newspaper, NatureNews, has announced the final shortlist of potential winners of the Hero of Environmental Action for Development (HEAD) Awards 2023.
The lean shortlist, which was made from a pool of entries that were submitted for the award, followed a rigorous process of screening and verification of environmental actions claimed by the nominees.
A statement by the newspaper’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Pius Alabi, said the HEAD award recognises and rewards outstanding individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional dedication to climate change action through innovative environmental solutions.
He said this year’s award is the third since NatureNews came alive on October 1, 2020 adding that the process has thrown up Nigeria’s topmost heroes of environmental action for development.
Mr. Alabi, who noted that the 2023 awards are in three distinct categories, viz: individual, private organisations, and public sector, said three potential winners have been shortlisted for each segments under the three categories.
He disclosed that while Borno, Bayelsa and Ogun States made the shortlist under the Gender Inclusiveness category; Anambra, Kogi and Oyo States were shortlisted for Climate mitigation.
He said Lagos, Adamawa and Jigawa States are the topmost nominees for Environmental Sustainability in the public sector, while FCDA, NCDMB and FMBN, were shortlisted under the public Sector category for climate adaptation.
Under the private sector category, Alabi said the final shortlist included; Innoson Motors, JAC Motors and GAC Motors in Climate Adaptation while Nestle Plc, Belema Oil Producing Limited and Lafarge Plc were nominated under the climate mitigation category.
Also nominated under the Private Sector Category are Dangote Group, Indorama Corporation and Sujimoto Construction for the highly coveted Environmental Sustainability award.
He said Sterling Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and First Bank came tops under Climate Financing category just as while MTN Foundation, BUA Foundation, and Coca-Cola Foundation made the final shortlist in the Climate Action category.
The Individual Category has shown keen contest between Ifedolapo Runsewe, Femi Oye, Jeniffer Unchendu, Funto Boroffice and Sekeenat Bello emerged top for their role in Climate Action.
“NatureNews, the driving force behind the HEAD awards, was launched on October 1, 2020, with a resolute mission to report on critical issues pertaining to the environment, climate change, and sustainable practices.
“As it marks its third anniversary, the newspaper continues to be a beacon of awareness and advocacy for environmental consciousness in Nigeria”, the statement added.