By Abbas Nazil
The Ecocykle Development Foundation (EDF) has deployed creativity and entertainment to promote climate action among Nigerian students through its 2025 Climate Edutainment (ClimEd) competition, which awarded N300,000 in cash prizes to inspire innovative environmental solutions.
Held at Primark International Academy (PIA) in Abuja, the project encouraged students to develop sustainability initiatives addressing poor waste management within their school.
PIA principal, Sir Oko Agaji, expressed deep appreciation for the initiative, describing it as a life-changing experience that ignited environmental consciousness among students and staff.
He called on the government and private sector to collaborate on tackling climate change, noting that environmental issues such as erosion and waste mismanagement directly affect communities and schools.
Senior prefect Coban Nathaniel, whose group emerged the overall winner, said the experience transformed his perspective on waste and the environment.
He vowed to work with fellow students to spread awareness on climate change, afforestation, and biodiversity protection.
Through poetry, music, and a sensitisation workshop, the competition showed how creative arts can effectively communicate climate science and solutions.
Six student groups participated, with judges from organisations including the Federal Ministry of Environment evaluating projects based on creativity, teamwork, and sustainability.
Group two won N150,000 with a score of 91.8%, group three followed with N100,000, while group five earned N50,000.
Judges, including Elsie Imaikop and Sophie Chika, commended the participants for proposing actionable solutions rather than just identifying environmental problems.
EDF’s Head of Communication, Pelumi Omowaye Emmanuel, said the initiative aims to raise young climate champions equipped with the knowledge and creativity to advocate for change.
He urged government support to expand the programme beyond Abuja.
The project, supported by Green Protocol, demonstrates that youth-driven innovation can advance climate education and inspire community-level action.
EDF’s success underscores that fighting climate change requires creativity, collaboration, and sustained engagement from both state and non-state actors for the good of future generations.
