By Bisola Adeyemo
As part of the activities to mark NatureNews Africa first anniversary, two women have won the Hero of Environment Actions for Development (HEAD) Awards.
The women are Favour Oluma and Intisar Bashir Kurfi.
The Awards were presented to them by Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, Emir of Dutse and Chancellor, Sokoto State University on Tuesday at the first anniversary lecture and ClimateAfrica magazine launch in Abuja.
The women were given the award on the basis of their contributions in turning waste to wealth and saving the environment from destruction.
The first recipient of the award is Favour Oluma, a 400 level student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna who converts used tyres into beautiful cushions.
According to her, she was motivated to make wealth during the COVID-19 lockdown last year, adding that there was no prior training on the skill before she ventured into it.
Speaking on the amount of patronage, Oluma said that since last year she made her first work and posted it on social media, she has been receiving massive orders from interested customers.
Speaking through a representative, who received the award on her behalf, Oluma expressed gratitude to NatureNews management for recognising her efforts.
The second winner of the award, Mrs. Intisar Bashir Kurfi, known as “Green Architect” is the CEO of Ifrique Eco solutions.
She has taken up the business of converting assorted plastics waste into interlock tiles.
Expressing her profound appreciation to NatureNews, she said, “I hope we are going to impact in our environment positively and the change begins with us so wherever you are always remember that our environment comes first.
“We need lots of Nigerians in this business, particularly the youths to join in recycling waste into useful products.
“This will also help to mitigate trashes in the streets and to produce more fantastic.”
Earlier, NatureNews Editor-in-Chief, Aliu Akoshile stated, “NatureNews and ClimateAfrica will be deployed to reporting the environment and to amplify creative solutions for making the environment habitable for human being, animals and plants.”