Lagos State has taken its message of environment sustainability to the Environmental Bees Club (EBC) in private and public secondary schools.
At a three-day symposium and natures’ excursion, the club handlers for different schools were taken through processes and measures to adopt towards ensuring environmental sustainability.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (Office of Environmental Services) Omobolaji Gaji said the ministry introduced the EBC training manuals for use in schools for pupils’ engagement on environmental greener actions.
“The gesture has led to the annual Environmental Bees Club handlers (teachers) manpower capacity development to enhance the development of environmental etiquette and attitudinal change. It has helped EBC members in schools in the development and documentation of over 300 environmental-based projects on recycling and upcycling of waste materials.
“Ensuring a sustainable lifestyle is a great commitment of all to unlearn, learn and relearn required attitudes on effective waste disposal and management, waste water management, impact of indiscriminate cutting of trees, burning of refuse, use of renewable energy and active participation in greener initiatives in homes, communities and mostly in various schools.”
Director of Environmental Assessment Ojunola Sunkanmi noted that the symposium is to train teachers d handlers in schools with the Environmental Bees Club to unlearn, relearn and learn some of the things they need to train the pupils.
“The idea of EBC is so to help pupils adapt with environmental management practices from a tender age, and use them as agents of change in the home and the society. So we need the handlers, basically the teachers, to also learn some of those skills they need to impart the pupils.”
One of the facilitators, Mrs. Temitope Okunnu, described the symposium as important to the fight against climate change. Okunnu, the founder of FABE International Foundation, noted that recycling and upcycling of waste is a creative way of turning waste into functional products. This, she noted, is a sure step towards ensuring environmental sustainability.
“The teachers/handlers have taken sure skills and lessons from the launch which they will pass across to their pupils. It is also important because they can replicate what we have learnt in their homes and communities, particularly with composting,” she added.