On the 10 December 2016, I hosted an environmental conference theme ?Positioning a Sustainable Environment in Northern Nigeria?. The event brought together major stakeholders in the environmental field ranging from social entrepreneurs, activists, and professionals living in the Northern Nigeria. The main program of the event is a panel discussion on the topic ?Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change in Northern Nigeria? and Panelists include:

1.      Mr. Hamzat Lawal - Co-Founder/Chief Executive at Connected Development.

2.      Mr. Usman Mareri – Founder, Centre for Renewable Energy and Action on Climate Change.

3.      Engr. Ibrahim Soba – Director, Conventional and Renewable Energy Technologies Limited.

4.      Mr. Onyekachi John-Paul – Chief Strategist, Megaboost Corporation and Founder, Impact Hub.

The panelists started with an explanation of environmental sustainability to the audience and explained while some of the environmental challenges still exist despite government and foreign intervention. Furthermore, the moderator asked for the reasons that there is an active youth participation in the Southern part of the country compare to the Northern part that is rapidly consumed by desertification. He also asked about some of the challenges they had encountered in the field of environmental sustainability. At the end of the panel discussion, the audience asked questions on environmental sustainability which the panelists answered.

Other programs during the event are a presentation by the Enactus, Ahmadu Bello University chapter, documentaries on Climate change in Northern Nigeria, and presentation by Dr. N.S. Maina. During the end of the event, we motivated the audience to develop an interest impacting on their community. We also encourage them to join TUNZA Eco-Generation and other student-based organization that focuses on environmental sustainability. At the end of the program, it is clear we imparted knowledge on the students and we hope they will do the same to others.