By Dauda Abbas
A group of environmental rights activists has trained students from Government Secondary School (GSS) Nyanya-Gbagyi and Junior Secondary School (JSS) Nyanya-Gbagyi, in Nasarawa State, on sustainable methods for disposing of plastic waste as part of efforts to address the issue of plastic pollutants in Nigeria.
The exercise, which was carried out as part of the group’s activities to commemorate 2023 World Environment Day (WED), gave the students, aged 12 to 17, the opportunity to learn firsthand how plastic waste negatively affects ecological protection.
Aliyu Sadiq, the founder of Ecocykle Foundation Development (EFD), explained that his organisation collaborated with the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) to host the programme, which included a Climate Action Youth Tour (CAYT), to educate schoolchildren on the direct impact of plastic waste on the environment and inspire them to adopt innovative solutions to combat the problem.
As a result, he went on to say that the students had the opportunity to visit major plastic pollution sites, recycling companies, and other waste management facilities.
The environmental campaigner was pleased at the end of the day that the participants had learned about how plastic pollution impacts water bodies, human and environmental health, and the climate.
Additionally, they gained the knowledge they required to improve the creation of the plastic waste action plan for schools.
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“This action plan,” Sadiq stated, “is expected to metamorphose into small projects for students to directly solve the problem of plastic pollution in their respective schools.”
Mariam Idris, a programme assistant at CSDevNet, argues that because of their susceptibility to its unfavorable effects, it is crucial to educate young people on the subject of climate change. She emphasised that educating the next generation about practical environmental protection measures they can use will support the achievement of the 2023 WED’s goal of reducing plastic pollution.
Furthermore Idris hinted that these convictions were what led her organisation to associate with the CAYT in support of Mother Earth on this year’s WED.
The CSDevNet programme assistant, like the previous speaker, expressed satisfaction as she watched the students gain first-hand knowledge and practical experience with how human activities affect the environment.
“We hope they’ll help us spread the word,” she remarked, “about how important it is to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone.”
Mrs. Sutik Madaki, a geography teacher at GSS Nyanya-Gbagyi who was part of the eco-tour crew, was delighted about the initiative because it gave students the opportunity to explore nature and gain knowledge on how to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
“They benefited from this project by learning about waste pollution, its effects on human health, and how to combat it.”
