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Green Campus Initiative

The Green Campus Initiative Features in the Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo 2016

Since 2010, the Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo (#NAEE2016) has provided a platform with a view of sharing experiences on decentralized renewable and alternative energy systems, finding and implementing solutions to energy access challenges in Nigeria, and increasing opportunities for both formal and informal dialogue among government representatives, pan-African organizations, policy makers, MDA’s, researchers, academia, manufacturers, investors, civil societies, and consumers. This year’s edition (the 6th edition) which was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Conference Centre, Abuja, from the 14th – 16th October was co-hosted by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power, Sustainable Energy Practitioners Associations of Nigeria (SEPAN), and the African SustainableEnergy Association (ASEA).

Themed, “Embracing renewable energy to tackle Nigeria’s economic challenges”, #NAEE2016 attracted speakers, panelists, and facilitators who all had professional and personal experiences and interests that provided them with unique credentials to be listened to.  Take for example, the French Ambassador to Nigeria; HE Denys Gauer, who called for effective collaboration between sectors, the Finland Ambassador to Nigeria; HE Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, who harped on moral attitude for sustainability, the CEO of DARE; Professor Yahaya Ahmed, who walked participants through the UNFCC and the Save 80 cooking system that does not contribute to Indoor Air Pollution (IAP), and the Head, Africa-EU Energy Partnership; Engr. Ina-de-Visser who highlighted the need to support market development for mesoscale renewable energy technologies in Nigeria and Africa. With over twenty-two manufacturers in renewable energy sector exhibiting their products and services, the Expo also focused on the achievement of the Sustainable Developmental Goals, SDGs.

Engaging University Students for a Sustainable and Better Future

Strong advocates and recommendations by relevant climate and environmental groups have continuously raised the need for real capacity building for universities, especially those in Africa. #NAEE2016 responded to this for the first time and took a step further to engage and empower Nigerian undergraduate students, so as to enhance their contribution to sustainable development and social transformation. This was done in partnership with The Green Campus Initiative, GCI – Nigeria’s leading and first campus-based environmental advocacy organization with a presence in thirty-eight (38) universities across the country. This step was guided by the realities facing students in environmental and social sciences, and those that have sufficient reason for interest in the renewable energy sector, and anchored in the belief that students are forces of equality and good governance, catalysts for global consensus building; and essential resources for sustainable development and poverty eradication.

Adenike Akinsemolu; Founder of GCI and Board member of SEPAN, led GCI Universities Ambassadors and Associates to the expo, where they had a session on the second day that comprised of a plenary and an oral presentation. Tagged, “The World is Going Green, Are You?”, and moderated by Owoeye Abolade; a Public Health expert and Environmental Biologist with the Federal University of Technology Akure, those on the plenary were Dr. Segun Adaju; CEO of Consistent Energy and Global Advisor to GCI, Dr. Amina Batagarawa; an Architecture Lecturer with Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and Global Advisor to GCI, Hamzat Lawal of Connected Development, CODE, and Ibrahim Majidadi; a Law Student of ABU Zaria. The epoch-making plenary and oral presentation which was done by Odunayo Ayodeji; a Mathematics Student of Adeyemi College of Education, focused on discussions about the SDGs in Nigeria, effective participation of youths and students, meaningful equity of policies, engagement at all levels of decision-making, and the works ofThe Green Campus Initiative across Nigerian universities.

The highpoint of GCI’s session was the recitation of the Green Pledge where all participants promised to live more sustainable and teach others on how to. The organizers and delegates present affirmed they learned a lot during their feedback comments. Also, they shared the thoughts of the outcomes of the plenary that real actions need to be done to make sure young people and student advocates are supported with finance, mentorship, and resources as 80% of students that completed the event registration online could not attend due to inadequate funds for travel and accommodation. Notwithstanding, #NAEE2016 engagement is a good indicator that the Nigerian society is preparing students to become competent innovators and leaders that would shape the renewable energy, environmental and power sector.

After the session, students were led on an excursion to the Green Estate in Garki, Abuja. The estate, a first of its kind in Nigeria, is reputed to have been running on solar and wind energy sources for the past 18 months, and is completely off the national power grid! The laudable project sets a standard for the feasibility of alternative energy in Nigeria and the promises of delivering on the climate action mandate in support of a sustainable world.

OGHENECHOVWEN, Oghenekevwe Christopher is an Ambassador of GCI and a third year BTech Student of Meteorology and Climate Science (FUTA). For more information, please contact greenthecampus@gmail.com or tweet to @c_chovwen

Green Campus Initiative features in Earth Day: Climate Action 2016

“
Time, people, events, and places conglomerate to align you with destiny…
”
— Unknown

Theodore Idibiye Francis Auditorium, located at The Federal University of Technology, Akure, was ready to accommodate green minds from inside and outside of Nigeria. The warm and refreshing air, welcoming sounds, and rich blends of colours used in its interior confirmed that this would be the perfect location for Nigeria’s Earth Day celebrations. Before the event began, as a Green Campus Initiative Intern, I was able to join in the chats, banter, and healthy discussions going on among groups of lively, intelligent and energetic people. Their impressions, feelings, and comments about this stand-out climate event were positive and educative. All these people, discussions, natural and tranquil environment really helped set the mood up for what was to happen.

Earth Day is an annual event on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and first celebrated in 1970, it is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year. With the passage of COP21 and the release of new UN Sustainable Development Goals, climate awareness is at an all time high. In this spirit, the Space Club and ENACTUS Team of The Federal University of Technology, Akure, felt it timely to organize Earth Day: Climate Action 2016 on January the 15th, 2016. The event was aimed at promoting sustainable practices that people could adapt to protect the planet. It was also a platform for sharing ideas, exhibiting products and inventions that mitigate climate change.

What made the event special for me?

First, it was the highly educative and interactive oral presentations of the experienced lead speakers, which included Adenike Akinsemolu; the Founder of Green Campus Initiative, Toluwanimi Kolawole; a Research Associate at The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Prof. Ahmed Balogun; an Applied Meteorologist and the Coordinator of WASCAL (West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use).

Adenike Akinsemolu showed the audience, which comprised of primary school pupils, secondary school students, university undergraduates, and young professionals from around the region, simple and creative solutions that will help sustain earth and influence people. Some of these included: commuting green, raising eco-conscious kids, social entrepreneurship, investing in organic foods and products etc. Toluwanimi Kolawole continued the session by sharing knowledge on parts of the planet such as people, resources, and systems which are finite. He discussed  the relationships between these element and, how anthropogenic activities influence the climate, and problem solving or critically thinking skills.

Also, the panel discussion and product and invention exhibition made the event special. Interesting questions were raised and discussed. One of such questions raised by a female undergraduate student of Industrial Design was on how art could be used to minimize climate change. One of the panellist, a Ghanaian and Team Lead of The Conservative; Mr Thomas Koffi Aboh emphasized that recently, art has become an important tool in reducing the effect of climate change. He went ahead and showed The Conservative eco-friendly products such as bags and caps all of which are made from local materials. Other panellists were, Olayinka Ojo; the Green Campus Initiative Minister for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, and also the Winner of the UN Spoken for Word Contest, Owoeye Josaiah Abolade; an Environmental Pollution PhD candidate, and Daniel Trump from the University of Edinburg.

Several teams, including The Conservative and Earthplus Africa from Obafemi Awolowo University, exhibited great ideas and products that are mitigating climate change.

Top Dignitaries of the University present at the event were the Dean of Students Affairs and First Bank Nigeria Professorial Chair in Computer Science; Prof. B. K. Alese, who also represented the Vice Chancellor of the University; Prof G. A. Daramola, the University Registrar; Dr. Mrs M. Ajayi, and Director of CESRA (Centre for Space Research and Applications), FUTA; Prof. J. O. Akinyede.

The Earth Day Event at FUTA was different from other green campaigns or activities because it did not just create awareness, but because it was a platform for sharing ideas and exhibiting various projects and innovations working to mitigate climate change. Attending this event alongside other team members from the Green Campus Initiative was worthwhile to me. The outcome has already started to be felt among other participants. This event should be held every year across campuses in Nigeria as this is a sure way of ensuring sustainability. Check out the pictures below:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christopher Oghenekevwe Oghenechovwen , a B.Tech student of Meteorology and Climate Science (FUTA), is a decolonized African, environmentalist and ready volunteer. He is 2013 Citizenship and Leadership Certified by CLTC, Nigerian Federal Ministry of Youth Development, a 2015 UNESCO & Athabasca University student on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue, 2015 Senior Category Gold Winner of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, and youth correspondent at yourcommonwealth.org . His growing passions lie within the circle of Climate Action, Media and Information, IT, Youth Education and Leadership. Apart from volunteering with Earthplus, The Green Campus Initiative, and doing creative writing, Oghenekevwe loves to connect with people. Invite him for a healthy conversation via chrischovwen@gmail.com


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