By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA: In a bid to address the devastating effects of climate change in Nigeria, respond to climate emergencies and advance the participation of young people in climate justice, Connected Development (CODE), Tuesday announced winners of the Ewah Eleri Climate Justice Fellowship.
The Fellowship, which is in honor of climate change activist, Ewah Eleri, will provide an opportunity for young Nigerians to join world leaders in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP27).
Speaking in Abuja at the launch and announcement of the winners of the Fellowship, Ewah Eleri noted that climate change is imposing a lot of challenges, not only on the environment but on livelihoods, economy and the chances for young people to have a sustainable future and hope in the country, adding that the unprecedented climate crisis has seen 30 of the country’s 36 states submerged due to the 2022 flooding.
He stated that as the world gathers in Egypt for COP27, there is the need to: seize this opportunity to turn the challenges of climate change to new opportunities by making it the ‘climate of opportunities’ for our own people; identify ways to leverage on the energy transition from dirty fuel to renewable energy; and to build new resilience not only in our cities and rural areas but also in our people through education, sound healthcare, and training for young people.
According to him, “We need to expand our view about how we address climate change, when we build resilience in the Nigerian people, then even the awareness of the environment also changes. If we do it that way, we will reclaim the future so that climate change becomes climate change, not only for our livelihoods and the environment, but climate change for new opportunities for our people”.
He urged the Fellows to use the opportunity to connect with the army of young people in the world who are working on climate change issues, build their own capacity, and also share the message that Nigeria is ready to work with the world to address the issue of building resilience in her people, and implementing the energy transition by 2060.
For his part, the Chief Executive of Connected Development, Hamzat Lawal, while speaking on the reason for the Fellowship in honour of Ewah Eleri, noted that a lot of young people in Nigeria are lost because they are not given opportunities, adding however, that Mr. Eleri gave him an enabling environment to thrive.
According to him, “Ewah has continued to show transitional leadership and build the next generation of climate justice leaders. He embodies values that talk about service for community and environment and this is one of his legacy that I build upon. He is an example of a godfather.
“I believe that Ewah is a model of mentorship where people should come and learn and we are working to ensure we are able to start a mentorship in his honor but I felt we should first start this Fellowship in his honour”, he stated.
Lawal further announced that CODE is committing to send at least five people every year to all the COP meetings to support the government, civil society, private sector and the international community on the issues of climate change.
The Fellows include The Sight News Editor, Mrs Gift Olivia Samuel, Etta Michael Bisong, Gregory Odogwu, Idowu Esuku and Hyeladzira Msheila.
