Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi), a tech organization committed to making positive impact in under-resourced schools, marginalized communities, and refugee camps, is taking significant steps to address the environmental challenges posed by Nigeria’s rapidly growing technology sector.
Through its Smart Climate Awareness, Learning, and Empowerment (SCALE) for Net Zero program, AREAi aims to promote eco-consciousness and responsible digital behaviors among key stakeholders in the tech ecosystem.
At a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer of AREAi, Mr. Gideon Olanrewaju, emphasized that the SCALE initiative is leveraging on four major approaches to achieving its goal which includes; Research, Public Awareness, Policy Advocacy and Capacity development.
He said the organisation was also providing empowerment to key technology hubs located across Abia, Rivers, Lagos, Kaduna and Adamawa states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the organisation will be working in collaboration with research institutions, tech startups, government agencies and civil society organisations to mobilize high level stakeholders engagement in fulfilment of the policy regulatory requirements of the initiative.
The Digital communication and Development Specialist (AREAi), Ms Temilade Salami, also explained that the SCALE initiative plans to combine a blend of tailored online and offline advocacy activities that would help raise awareness, drive active physical actions that results into a drastic reduction in the amount of greenhouse emissions from the various actions, products and similar outputs indicators of the Nigerian tech ecosystem.
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The key aspects of this groundbreaking initiative include directly engaging information and communications technology (ICT) companies, digital start-ups, and other players in the tech ecosystem. Its primary goal is to enhance awareness about the high negative environmental cost associated with technology.
By mobilizing these stakeholders, AREAi aims to collectively reduce their contributions to the digital carbon footprint.
AREAi also collaborates with research institutions, tech startups, government agencies, and civil society organizations with key partnerships including organizations like the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization Nigeria, and the Department of Climate Change.
The initiative aims to develop a web and mobile-based open-source measurement tool. This tool will allow technology stakeholders to assess and report their environmental footprint, contributing to a more sustainable digital landscape
As digital transformations and remote work become more prevalent, technology’s role in the climate crisis is under scrutiny. The ICT sector’s emissions contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria. The SCALE program seeks to mitigate this impact and drive responsible digital practices.
Through AREAi’s SCALE initiative, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem can transition toward a greener, more sustainable future, ensuring that technology doesn’t come at the cost of our environment. This holistic approach emphasizes both awareness and action, making it a crucial step in safeguarding our planet while advancing digital innovation.
