Green Campus Initiative featured on the 2016 New Media Conference

The Green Campus Initiative was a part of this year’s New Media Conference; a leading conference in Nigeria that gives you a unique opportunity to learn from, and network with senior leaders from the biggest brands in Nigeria. It held on the 27th of May, 2016 at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. A team of ten (10) representatives from the Initiative attended the conference among which were ambassadors, associates, and an advisor.

The founder of the Initiative, Adenike Akinsemolu gave a brilliant 20 minutes summary of the challenge that birthed the Initiative and how New Media had helped promote and publicise the Initiative. She also made everyone take the Green Pledge.

After that, a panel session titled "Green Media and Popular Culture: Using Green Media for Sustainable Green Initiatives in Nigeria" commenced moderated by Owoeye Abolade (Teaching Assistant at FUTA), consisting of four (5) seasoned panellists who are:

Segun Adaju, C.E.O. Blue Ocean Nigeria,

Kayikunmi Stefan, Specialist in Energy Economics,

Mr. Bankole Temitayo, Prime Minister, Green Campus Initiative, and,

Odunayo Ayodeji, Minister of Education and Advocacy, Green Campus Initiative.

The topic, Green Media, and Popular Culture: using New Media for Sustainable Green Initiatives in Nigeria, was discussed extensively. Then a session of question and answer followed. It was indeed a fun and educative experience as many had wondered how the Green Initiative was to fit into the conference. The attention and participation of the audience showed that they were carried along and properly educated and now fully understood the role of New Media in the sustainability of Green Initiatives in Nigeria.

You Might Want to Try Having a Green Easter Holiday this Year

Hello friends!

Sure, I agree that the idea of a green Easter holiday is somewhat new, but not to worry, the Green Team and I would be jumping in with you. Honestly, I can't wait to start my holiday, and guess what! For the first time, I would be catching some breath and fun whilst enjoying the freshness of nature with family and friends.

Aside being environmentally-friendly and healthy at the same time, having a green Easter holiday can also save you good sums of money and develop your creativity. Don’t get me wrong here! Having a green holiday doesn’t mean you have to cut back on the fun or other good times. Not at all, you can still enjoy the events and activities of your holiday. It only gets better.

Here are some ways to make your holiday greener, enjoy:

First, get everybody, family and friends, to know that you plan to be eco-friendly during the holiday and ask for their support. There are high chances that you could just influence a large number of them, if not all, to be part of your plans. Who doesn’t want to be healthy and strong, I mean? Instead of sending out your plans, and hangout, reunion, or other event invitations to them with cards or paper letters, you could rather send an email, a text, or give them a call. Online ways of informing family and friends are really acceptable. Go ahead, tell them your plans and be digital!

If you’ve been thinking of taking a trip to a smoky factory, or hosting a hangout in that noisy centre, it’s time to let that though go. You should consider a venue or location that would be relaxing - a perfect one. Take a trip instead to that Conservation Park or reserve, walk through their quiet paths, feel the trees, hear the chirping and melody of birds, and be close to nature. Have that reunion or hangout outdoors, see the therapeutic skies above your head, watch the sun set, be in that little gush of moist wind, and again be close to nature. You would save electrical energy by doing these because you don’t get to power on the light bulbs. Also, the happiness, adventure and new experience you get by doing these would be satisfying and fulfilling.

Providing bins that are well labeled are also something you should do at your events. Recycle bins, compost bins, and garbage bins for throwaways. Guests would dispose properly on seeing these bins.

Finally, you might want to try some new type of food. Fast foods and excess sweets are not the best; little nutrients are gotten from them. You could try organic food this holiday; its richness is what our bodies need for better health. Clean water, fresh fruits, organic food and organic wine all makes for sustainable dining.

Having a green holiday is not only a fun way to enlighten family and friends, but it is also a great way of attracting others.

Green Urban Cities (Government’s Role in the Sustainability Movement)

The onus is on the government, and not private firms, to be the leaders in greening and the environmental sustainability movement at large. Think about it (from an economic standpoint). There really isn’t any incentive for private firms to reduce pollution and be more environmentally conscious (except if it’s in their best interest). Firms are rational actors and would do whatever it takes to maximize profit and reduce costs. In the greening movement, and thinking from a thoroughly macro-perspective, government is the best model to inspire the masses. Green Urban Cities, for example, thrive in Europe, especially in Scandinavian countries where government is bigger. I’m not one to argue for the expansion of government, but if the right checks and regulations are put in place for justifiable environmental policies, this could be a worthwhile rationale.

The government can do more in spearheading green and environmentally friendly investments by employing the same economic means by which they attract rich multinational companies. They could, for example, provide tax reliefs for environmentally conscious companies willing to enter the market. As of now, there are two widely regarded government interventions in the green movement:

Environmental Tax (Carbon Tax): Governments can tax the pollution of corporations by setting a price on carbon emissions of companies in the region. The economical goal is to make the use of harmful fuels and energy more expensive.

Emissions Trading: Several governments have also introduced incentives to control pollution in the form of the cap and trade system. This is more of a market based approach and it has been largely successful in Europe under the guise of the EU Emission Trading Scheme.

These two interventions are more viable in established markets and would have a hard time being constructive in less developed markets. Keeping true to our micro-level approach of greening, I believe there are small actionable ways the government can engage people in the sustainability movement.

Confronting the consumer: With the help of non-governmental organizations, the government could utilize public awareness campaigns to engage and educate the masses on the best sustainability practices. Gradually, teams of households could be set up in neighborhoods who modify consumption patterns and take account of the waste and disposal patterns.

Employee mobility: Returning to theme of the government of being the best model for sustainability, there could be policies put in place that charge governmental employees to employ environmental friendly modes of transportation. Carpooling should be encouraged and if vehicles are bought for the government office, they should be more energy efficient and low polluting. The Leicester Bicycle program, for example, has been quite successful and there is a lot to be learnt from that city-wide endeavor.

Management of government buildings: Governmental building have to be used more creatively to reduce long term environmental impacts. Recycling bins should be located throughout the building and office appliances ought to be used more efficiently to lessen energy consumption.

Ecological Twinning: The environmentalism movement is a global one. We can’t afford to be myopic when dealing with such a global crisis. Ecological twinning involves partnering with other cities, possibly in other countries, by exporting sustainability practices. Other programs that encourage intra-country partnering on environmental sustainability should also be encouraged.

I want to emphasize that most of these actions should be taken at the local government level. Smaller scale investments are much likely to yield faster results. Once established, the federal government can then adopt a more macro level approach like the environmental tax and emissions trading discussed above. We’d love to hear from you; should government play a leading role in the sustainability movement or should it be left to the free market? What do you think?

Author

Olaoluwa holds a Masters in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelors from Lincoln University. His core interests include poverty alleviation and youth empowerment. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing and watching sports. In the future, he hopes to obtain a doctorate degree where he aims to study exclusionary policies that limit youth participation in politics.

Bessie House-Soremekun Meets the Green Team

The founder of the Centre for Global Entrepreneurship and Sustainability, Prof. Bessie-House Soremekun in her visit to Adeyemi University of Education, Nigeria had a round table meeting with the Green Team on her interest to partner with the Green Institute. This collaboration will foster rapid development in achieving the set goals of the Green Institute and to maximize our common interest of sustainability. Achieving a self-sustaining environment is a duty that cannot be left to some factions of interested people; it is a duty that requires the collaboration of everyone. 

Students bonded with the Provost through Bike Riding

In Nigeria, there is a mindset towards anyone riding a bicycle. It is either they are poor or they are young set of people playing around. This is absolutely a wrong perception as cycling has major benefit towards improving our health. On April 24, the entire members of the Green Institute bonded with the Provost of the college, Professor Olukoya Ogen with a bicycle trip round the Provost Lodge. It was a scintillating experience.  You should try it too. Enjoy the pictures below: 

Professor Olukoya Ogen, Provost

The Provost meets the Green Team officially

Mr Kehinde Adenegan, Green Member

The Registrar, Felix Aderinboye with Adenike Akinsemolu and some students