Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- World report
8
Comments
MY 2015 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY ACTIONS |
|---|
|
Just before leaving for the recently concluded Global Youth Summit 2015 in Germany, I spoke with the commissioner for environment of my residential state, Anambra, on the plans of the state government for the 2015 World Environment Day(WED)- I partnered the Anambra State government to host last year's event.
He said there was no plan yet but gave a hint there could be something in the offing. I really wanted to partner them again just like I did last year but in bigger way. I wanted to help them plan the event from the very start. So, I left for Germany and on my return from the summit, I quickly called the commissioner to know if they've got plans as the WED was ten days away, he told me the governor of the State has not approved anything for the WED and it turned out that way the state didn't have any event for the 2015 WED. After speaking with the commissioner on my return from Germany, I was convinced that the state ministry of environment had no plan for the WED so, I started making private plans on how to mark the much anticipated day. First, creating awareness is always top of my agenda when it comes to the environment as Nigerians still need more information on that. So I requested for an interview with my university radio station,UNIZIK 94.1 FM Awka, where I also volunteer as a Radio Host and the Station manager was so happy to grant my request. I was interviewed,on the 2015 WED, for 45 minutes live on radio on the 5th of June, 2015 and that interview I gave created the much needed awareness on the day as most of the media houses in my region just didn't do anything or do much to mark the day. Please, listen or download the interview here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4UauN-C5hTlMDE2UUtwOHZndUk/edit?usp=drive_web Again, I wrote what some described as a very motivating news commentary on the WED to be read on 5th June 2015 on my university Radio station,UNIZIK 94.1 FM Awka, it couldn't be read on that date as one of our reporter's already had it as her commentary beat as schedule by the news editor. It is a common practice in our radio station that reporters are given the task of writing news commentaries on special United Nations dates but also, my own commentary was timeless meaning it could go on air anyother day unlike the one written by our reporter which would have made no meaning if read on another date other than the 5th of June. So, my commentary,which centered around the theme of the 2015 WED(SEVEN BILLION DREAMS. ONE PLANET. CONSUME WITH CARE) was aired three times-at 6am,3pm and 6pm major news of the station- the next day,6th June, 2015,and it was great. I helped prolong the publicity and kept the topic fresh in the mind of people. Please, listen or download the commentary here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4UauN-C5hTlZ1p3Um0tRllWN0U/edit?usp=drive_web Still not satisfied with my actions yet for the 2015 World Environment Day, I furthered my plans to get the approval of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University High School Principal to speak to the students of her school on the 2015 WED theme. I had earlier communicated the principal- via a phone call- on my intentions of speaking to her students but she told me the school will be on mid-term break by the week of 5th June, 2015 so I had to seek for another date. I booked an appointment with the principal and the week after the school's midterm break, I visited her office and after a brief discussion, she referred me to the Guidance and Counsellor of the school so I went to the lady's office but she wasn't in school on that day. I later learned she went to attend to an assignment outside the school so I waited for a few hours but she wasn't just coming. It was difficult for me to wait as I am currently on a six-months industrial training in a Laboratory as part of my course of study and was already very late to work. I managed to get the Counsellor's telephone number before leaving the school. I called her and we discussed the possible dates which must be a Friday as that's the day most high schools in Nigeria set out time for such activities. So she told me Friday, 12th June, 2015 was not available as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of my University was billed to speak to the high school students on that day, hence, I switched my attention to the next date available and it was Friday, 19th June, 2015. The Guardian and Counsellor then requested that I visit again so we can discuss at length and I did, this time, I was armed with an official letter. The discussion went well and she took me to the vice principals office where my appointment was fully approved. Friday, 19th June, 2015 was the date, 9:45am was the time. They suggested a preference for a powerpoint presentation so that the students will get to see pictures and I was so happy to hear that. They told me the school has a projector but they were not sure if it was in a good state so I had the task of getting one. Obviously, I was late again at my place of Industrial Training but I communicated every of my schedule with them so they were aware and that helped a lot. Just on the eve of the day, I confirmed from the school that their project was in a good condition and will be available. All was set for the D' day. It was morning on the 19th of June and I was putting finishing touches to the slideshow I have already prepared with a rich content of TUNZA Eco-Generation Living Green kits. I arrived the school quite on time and two friends from the radio station- who I had requested their presence to help me with the projector set-up and filming/photographing the event- arrived shortly afterwards. Gbagam! Gbagam!! Gbagam!!! went the school bell and the students, numbering over 700, all made their way to the school hall. After one of their teachers had taken the prayers, the stage was set for me and I seized he opportunity with great joy. I started by commending the students for their smart looks and introducing my topic which was the theme of the 2015 WED in line with Eco-Generation's Living Green kits. At this point of introduction, I made mention of the possibility that we may need three planets to survive by the year 2050 if we continue with our careless way of consuming and asked the students if they will like it if earth can longer sustain us such that we will need two more planets to survive. All but one young female students said they wouldn't like that. Clearly impressed by the courage of the young girl, I sought to know her reasons and she said she would love to live in another planet to see what is there in. She clearly had a longstanding love for the space. Of course, I reminded her the fact that there's hardly any other planet that supports life of both plants and animals as we have on earth. Again, during my speech, my slideshow got to the picture of a huge waste dump and I asked the students if they could guess where the picture was taken, they all chroused Onitsha- a town that was hitherto notorious for huge waste dumps. You can imagine their surprise when I told them that the huge waste dump was located just outside their school fence. Many of them now remembered and I could hear whispers of "it's true" amongst the students. I spoke to the students for about one hour and ended by given Eco-Generation branded handbooks and rulers- which was sent to me some months ago for being part of the winners of a monthly event- to some students who impressed in my question and answer segment which I used to round off my speech. Also, towards the end of my speech, I urged the students who may be interested in environment advocacy to give their names to the Guidance and Counselling teacher so that I can have the list when next I visit. I was full of thanks for the school and her students. (My friend filmed about 37 minutes of the event with a phone. The video quality is not that good but I hope you can manage to watch and also listen. I lost my SAMSUNG Camera- sent to me last year by Eco-Generation for winning the 2014 June monthly event- in Munich. So, that's why I used a phone as an alternative). Please, watch or download the video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4UauN-C5hTlVmUxWmlrTFBxT1U/edit?usp=drive_web Not done yet, a comprehensive news of the event was reported on my university Radio station by one of my friends-who's a reporter in our radio- that I requested to be at the event. The news was read for two days. Now, I was satisfied by the level of publicity my actions had generated. Please, listen or download the news here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4UauN-C5hTlQUJaRmR4dVY3ckk/edit?usp=drive_web I was so happy to have done this actions for the 2015 WED especially given the difficulties I faced as I was on Industrial Training and just returned from the summit in Germany few days to the WED. It cost me my money, time and other resources but I am so glad to have sacrificed that much for the environment. I thank my fellow ambassadors for their great works on the 2015 WED and also thank TUNZA Eco-Generation for the wonderful Living Green kits, it was very helpful. This one was great, I hope to make it even better next year. Remember the message, "SEVEN BILLION DREAMS. ONE PLANET. CONSUME WITH CARE". |
|
|
|
|
|
Previous : What we facilitated, what they...
8 Comments
Wow! thankyou for sharing the story!
Posted 18-08-2015 17:22
You are always welcome Udeh :D Have a wonderful week ahead!
Posted 06-07-2015 11:03
Thanks Habeeb.
Posted 05-07-2015 03:27
Thank you TUNZA Eco-Generation. You're really spectacular. I am so proud to be your Ambassador. Thank you so much.
Posted 05-07-2015 03:26
Thanks a lot Christy. I am really humbled by your comments.
Posted 05-07-2015 03:24
A wonderful way of celebrating the WED.
I also organized an online event in my organizations FB page to show my support for the wed.
The winners were given certificates.
Posted 02-07-2015 20:31
It's so lovely to see those pictures from your 2015 WED celebration!!! Thank you so much for the work you've done for the environment as well as our future generations! I do believe the kids surely have learned from your Eco-generation class! :) We do hope the kids can join our Tunza Eco-generation and share their everyday efforts for Mother Earth in the future. Thank you again, Udeh! You're the best! :D
Posted 02-07-2015 17:54
Dear Udeh, I was surprised that you celebrated the 2015 WED this big and this meaningful! You are a definite inspiration for me. I am really proud of you. It looks like a quite big and official event. You did a good job with persuading the officers and the school staffs. Your lecture must have planted environmental awareness in the students' mind. Again, a big round of applause for your great work! And Thank you so much for sharing the story this vividly. Hats off!
Posted 02-07-2015 17:32