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Adeyemi University of Education

REPOST: 2015 Green Ambassadors Training

The timing of the event could not have been more auspicious as it came on the heels of the just concluded COP 21 Climate Change Conference in Paris, France. About 150 students from various institutions of higher learning all over Nigeria gathered at the MIS building in Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State. They were there at the behest of the Green Initiative located at the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) for a program known as the Green Ambassadors Training (GAT) which took place on the 15th of December 2015.

Green Ambassadors Training (GAT) is an innovative initiative that is designed to train youths to adopt the “GO GREEN” ideology to enable them become agents of positive change to their community, nation and generation. The purpose of the exercise is to educate, engage and enlighten young people on what and how to GO GREEN as well as equip them with the requisite tools to practically transform their various campuses. Participants who were fortunate to be shortlisted from a pool of people that registered on the initiative’s website (www.greenthecampus.org), were subjected to intensive training on several topics of relevance by experienced speakers within and outside Nigeria.

The speakers were Prof Bryon Price from Baruch College, New York City, who talked about recycling and how it can be a steady source of income. Prince Akinwale Ojomo, the CEO Diaspora Innovation Institute, talked about social entrepreneurship using creative and innovative ideas to solve the immediate problems in the society. Mr. Kayikunmi Stefan Sogo from the University of Twente Netherlands enlightened the trainee on Renewable energy and focused on solar as an alternative source of energy serving homes and companies. He talked about his research of floating PV on the Kanji Dami. Mr Olayinka Ojo spoke on using art to promote campaign ideas and advocacy. Adenike Akinsemolu, the founder of the Green Campus Initiative elucidated on the core idea and mission of the Green Campus Initiative. According to her, “Going Green is not just about climate change, but living a healthy and happy life which implies that you do not hurt yourself, the people around you and your environment.” She also emphasized the need to raise eco-conscious kids who would be thoroughly oriented about their roles in keeping the ecosystem stable and healthy. She charged the participants to take the Green pledge and thereafter introduced the Green Ministers. 

The event also featured some entertainment which included a dance display by a dance group and a performance by PDP (Purpose Driven Poets not the Peoples Democratic Party) comprising of poets Temitayo Bankole, Nifemi, Caleb, Odunayo and Succulent. They serenaded the audience with spoken word poems on the need to GO GREEN. At the end of the training, participants were appointed as GREEN AMBASSADORS and issued certificates OF GREENESS. Adenike Akinsemolu rounded off the session by telling the new ambassadors to replicate all they have learnt in their schools and communities. The newly inducted GREEN AMBASSADORS began executing their mandates by undertaking a community service round the campus. They also paid a courtesy visit to the Provost of the college and the number one green ambassador, Prof. Olukoya Ogen whose support for the Initiative has been extraordinary to say the least. He received them warmly and charged them to be good ambassadors of the program.

The Green Ambassadors Training is a laudable initiative that should be promoted and replicated in other parts of Nigeria and Countries in Africa as the world transitions into a new paradigm of sustainability, through the adoption Green Ideologies and technologies. Other institutions should borrow a leaf from Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) under the leadership of the amiable Professor Olukoya Ogen who has demonstrated visionary leadership in endorsing and assisting the initiative. Government MDA’s (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) at all levels, Individuals, International Organizations and corporate entities should support the Green Campus Initiative because it needs all the help it can get at this point in time. The Green Campus Initiative is an idea whose time has come thereby all hands must be on deck to ensure that the initiative transcends ACE by embarking on the training of more Green Ambassadors next year.

Written by Wajim Yakubu Nuhu via Sahara Reporters

REPOST: Meet the Young Nigerian Lady on a Mission to Transform Nigeria's University Campuses

The first thing I observed about her was the exotic hairdo she was carrying which reminded me of T. Y Bello the erstwhile member of Kush who sang the famous and classic song Greenland. We first met at the Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo event that held at the Yar adua Centre in Abuja from the 14th – 16th of October 2015. We arrived at the gate at about the same time and later struck up a conversation during accreditation before the event began. She came across as a focused, intelligent, driven and confident young lady with a lot of verve and passion. I was surprised and impressed when she told me what she was engaged in at that point in time after which i got to find out that she was also one of the panellist billed to give a presentation during the Conference.

Adenike A. Akinsemolu is an undergraduate lecturer at Adeyemi College of Education, a college ofObafemi Awolowo University and a Doctoral Student of Microbiology at the Federal University of Technology where her research focuses on the genotoxicity studies of oil polluted areas of Ondo State. She is also a researcher, female child advocate, member of the American Society of Microbiology and a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. Adenike is involved in developing a new concept that focuses on the microbial world and the benefits they have on sustainable development known as GREEN Microbiology.

A graduate of Babcock University, Adenike is the founder of the Green Campus Initiative at the  Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo, Nigeria. Her GREEN EPIPHANY came during a lecture on photosynthesis when she realised that her students were not really conversant with what it means to GO GREEN. She took it upon herself to teach them what, why and how to GO GREEN through a hands on and innovative approach. By involving the Provost and Staff in addition to prominent students in her campaigns, she was able to engage and convince them to GO GREEN. She adopted creative practical demonstrations like riding bicycles to school, writing a green handbook and producing a poetic green video among other activities that have helped to start a GREEN revolution which has transformed and positively impacted her school.

Adenike’s efforts in GREEN advocacy in Nigerian Campuses have not gone unnoticed and they have resulted in recognition within and outside the country. She has travelled to South Africa to participate in a gathering on GREEN Campuses where she granted several interviews on radio and other online platforms. She was also a recipient of an award at the just concluded Nigerian Alternative Energy Expo 2015 in Abuja. Her knack for innovation and creativity makes her a name to watch out for in the GREEN space. Though she may be a neophyte in lecturing (less than 3 years’ experience), Adenike has contributed more to her school than what many professors do to theirs in a lifetime.

Without sounding too patronising, Adenike is undoubtedly a role model for young Nigerians especially in this dispensation of change. She may not hold political office, but she is providing LEADERSHIP in her area of gifting (advocacy) and changing lives positively as a result. While many of her age are concerned with mundane things like the latest fashion and Brazillian hair, Adenike has discovered a noble cause to dispense her Talents, Time and Treasures on. As she joins the ever growing league of young female innovators in Nigeria’s GREEN space like Bilkiss Adebiyi (Wecyclers), Ayoola Kassim (Channels Earth File), Amina Batagarawa (ABU Zaria) and Ugochi Oluigbo among others, I hope she would continue to blaze the trail till GOING GREEN goes mainstream in Nigerian University Campuses.

Written by Wajim Yakubu Nuhu via Linkedin

REPOST: Adeyemi University of Education Awarded Two Distinguished Green Awards

The Fourth Annual Green Campuses Conference 2015 was recently held at the University of Western Cape in South Africa from June 28-July 2nd 2015, and for innovators in the field of environmental sustainability, it was the place to be. The conference was organized by the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) with the aim of promoting climate change interventions at colleges and university campuses. A major draw of the conference is the chance for participants to be informed about the National Framework for “Recreating the greener future” in South Africa through various platforms including curriculum design and assessment practices, material development, career development, and to effectively participate in the skills development opportunities within the Green Economy Sector.

Adenike Akinsemolu, Initiator of the Green Campus Initiative at the  Adeyemi University of Education (AUE) delivered a speech titled “AUE’s Journey to Eco-sustainability” at the conference and her institution was awarded Distinguished Green Award (Silver Category) for Green Campus Activities & Programmes and Gold Category Award for the Best New Comer 2015 at the end of the conference. She shared the vision of the organisation which is creating a healthier, happier and more fertile community where staff and students are excited about their work and proud of their achievements. She also delivered her strategic plan for the organisation and explained that the goal of the Initiative include encouraging students and staff to think green, adopt green lifestyle, use bicycles and public transportation; reduce resource usage through recycling; raise Eco-conscious citizens by structuring curricular to focus more on sustainability; promote social entrepreneurship through the development of vocational skills, and create overall environmental awareness.

“The biggest obstacle in tackling climate change is the lack of knowledge about it. Even some who are aware of it, have the erroneous belief that it requires the effort of industrialized countries to curb it. We seek to change that mindset. To us, audience engagement equals powerful impact. We want to put environmental consciousness on the agenda. One of the major reasons for attending this conference is to foster a mutually beneficial collaboration between institutions in order to facilitate shared learning and public-private partnerships”, she said. She added that the Green Campus Initiative was well supported by the Provost of the institution, Professor Olukoya Ogen who is an ambassador of the initiative. The Green Initiative is in line with his vision for the university; therefore the school plans to commence the use of solar power as an alternative source of energy, to reduce the amount spent on diesel to power generators, come 2016.

For more information about the AUE’s Green Campus Initiative Click here or Like their Facebook Page.

Source: www.nigeriansinsouthafrica.com I Written by Adekunle Samuel Owolabi

REPOST: The 1st Annual AUE Green Series

It was undoubtedly an epoch-making event on the 3rd and 4th of June 2015 at the prestigious Adeyemi University of Education. The stage was set, lights glittered and everyone could testify at the caressing touch of the sun as they walked through the quadrangle to the historic Obasanjo Auditorium for the Green Series 101 (Day 1).

Soft music played as students and staffs waited patiently for the mystery behind ‘GREEN’ to be unraveled.  An initiative pioneered by the firm, laborious, studious, innovative and intelligent Lecturer from the integrated Science Department; Adenike Akinsemolu.

Like the final of the UEFA Champions league, the whistle blared and everyone stood up for the national anthem, which was led by some members of the Green Team. The program progressed with a spoken word video titled ‘Let’s Go Green’ by Olayinka Ojo, which featured a cameo appearance of the school provost in person of Prof. Olukoya Ogen and the evergreen school registrar, Mr. Felix Aderinboye.

Hands were continuously jamming as Ms. Adenike Akinsemolu gingerly walked to the stage to deliver her presentation. She succinctly and accurately presented her points ranging from waste management to conservation of energy, social entrepreneurship and advocacy. She stressed that corruption is responsible for the environmental hazard happening all around the world and that everyone should shun corruption. She closed the lofty presentation by asking everyone to say the Green pledge.

The excitement in the atmosphere was obvious and it was as though time stood still as the program continued with sessions of panelists ranging from lecturers, professionals, university and secondary school students who thoroughly discussed key issues. Dr. Mrs. Babajide (lecturer), Bankole Emmanuel (student) and Adebayo Boluwatife (HOMAJ student) were on the Energy panel. The waste management panel featured Mr. Sanni (lecturer), Akinbonmi Racheal (St. Louis student) and Foyin Adebayo (student). Omotola Akinsola (Social entrepreneur), Olayinka Ojo (student) and Rotimi Adetoyinbo (St. Joseph’s student) did justice to the aspect of social entrepreneur. Finally, the darling Mathematics Lecturer in person of Mr. Adenegan alongside Babajide Bright (Demonstration School student) and Aremu Bankole (student) was on the advocacy panel.

The program won’t be complete without the electrifying performance from Samuel Bliss (actress) and aerobic display from the Physical and Health Education Department. Gifts were given by the Founder of Homaj Schools and guess what? Prof. Olukoya Ogen (the provost) was named the fittest man on campus. Thanks to Engr. Adedeji who anchored the program.

The Day 1 of the program ended with remarks from the Dean of Science in person of Dr. F.O Balogun and the green cake received its judgment and the clicks of paparazzi blended into the night.

The 4th of June 2015 marks the day of action. Green members in their uniform led by Ms. Adenike Akinsemolu went around campus to plant flowers, clean the environment and remove unwanted posters responsible for visual pollution.

Creating a green and self-sustaining environment is the duty of all. Why don’t you join the green team to creating this daunting but rewarding task of greening Adeyemi University of Education.  Enjoy Pictures and Videos from our Launch of the Green Initiative below:

Source: www.aceondo.edu.ng

Green Series Scheduled for July 2-3 2015

The First Annual Green Series is scheduled to holds July 2, 2015 at Obasanjo Auditorium, Adeyemi University of Education. The topics to be covered include energy, waste management, environmental advocacy and social entrepreneurship. The event will be followed by a cocktail and on July 3rd, students will engage on environmental sanitation across campus.  You are invited.

Organic Farming at Adeyemi College

The Green Institute is partnering with the Department of Agriculture, Adeyemi College of Education to improve agricultural and livestock production. The Agricultural farm produces about 10,000 litres of palm oil and 4 tonnes of palm kernel annually. The piggery and poultry units also produce meat and foundation stock for members of the community. The university recently applied for a World Bank Grant to increase production organically. Check out pictures below: