By Abbas Nazil
Nigerian-American playwright and poet Cash Onadele, popularly known as Aiye-ko-ooto, has announced his latest play, Tell Us, O Wise One, aimed at promoting a healthier planet and raising climate change awareness among children, youth, and adults.
The play, described as a young adult climate-focused literary work, was written in response to the growing global concern over climate change, its environmental impacts, and the social challenges associated with it.
Onadele explained that the story follows two young friends who worry about the future of the planet and seek guidance from an Old Sage on what actions they can take to improve the environment.
The Old Sage advises them to begin climate action with themselves, extend it to their families, and then involve their wider community, emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility and collective action.
Preparations are ongoing for the staging of the play on May 27, Children’s Day, in Lagos. Onadele shared that park shows are planned for both the Mainland and Island areas, with details still being finalized.
He added that the main focus is to instill awareness of climate change, although children attending the event can also look forward to enjoying ice cream, gifts such as T-shirts, and copies of the book.
A children’s colour version of *Tell Us, O Wise One* is also under development, aimed at making the story more engaging and accessible for young readers.
The themes of the play draw heavily on culture, cultural identity, community sacrifice, and collective action in addressing climate change, reflecting broader social and educational goals.
Onadele expressed hope that the play’s message would complement government efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in environmental sustainability, community engagement, and education.
He noted that climate change analysts, green enthusiasts, circular economy policymakers, and educationists can leverage the play’s message to improve climate literacy, drama, and environmental education in schools.
The playwright also spoke about his earlier work, *The Noble Warrior–Ẹni Ogun*, which celebrated Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and became a bestseller in Nigeria in 2024 and 2025.
The book has since been approved by the National Education Research Development Council for use in national literature and grammar studies at the Senior Secondary School level and had earlier received approval from the Ministries of Education and Technology in Lagos and Ogun states.
Onadele expressed hope that both plays would continue to inspire audiences and reinforce the importance of culture, education, and collective action in addressing climate and social challenges in Nigeria.
