By Dada Jackson

All environment-related clubs in all schools in Lagos State on Wednesday came under one umbrella known as Environmental Bees Club, with the First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo Olu, at the launch, charging the students to become agents of positive change of the environment.

The First Lady, who spoke at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, added that there was a need for sustainable environmental education with the involvement of the younger generation (students).

She explained that this could only serve as a panacea to the yearnings for a greener environment through attitudinal and self monitoring approach.

Dr Sanwo-Olu stressed that nowadays, the environment had more issues with humanity’s footprints almost everywhere with changes in the natural world having greater consequences such as climate change, famine, pollution of all forms, indiscriminate dumping of refuse which stares us in the face daily.

She said, “With the formal launch, students who are the hope of the future are adequately updated and equipped with the skills and information to transform the environment into a greener one for the benefits of all.”

She described the launch which also featured the unveiling of an EBC training manual as a brilliant collaborative initiative aimed at tackling environmental challenges that promotes a sustainable environment.

Speaking earlier, the chief host, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, said making the young ones environment champions heralded a new approach to environmental management.

Bello said the launch of the club was a milestone made possible by the support of Mr Governor and his wife, adding that it marked a new dimension to complete eradication of all environmental nuisances that stare all in the face and achievable through the practical demonstration of actions required while involving the children in ecosystem value sustainability.

He recalled that the original concept started as  Schools Environmental Advocacy Programme and took off in Y2005 during the tenure of Governor Bola Tinubu with the New Era Foundation as its main facilitator with the objective of inculcating sound environmental practices in the minds of students so that they can serve as a vehicle of change to the larger society.

He stressed that the club in years past ensured students were exposed to practical knowledge in matters relating to global environmental issues and best environmental practices employed by international communities to reduce effects of environmental degradations through exchanged visits to Germany.

Bello went down memory Lane that at inception, the club was known as Green Hands Club which later metamorphosed into Climate Change club (CCC), working with other environmental clubs introduced by various organizations in schools with different aims and objectives.

He said government deemed it fit to harmonise all the clubs hence the change of the name of the club to Environmental Bees Club (EBC).

“It is in the light of this that the ministry is desirous of harmonizing all the environment based clubs in schools and henceforth rebrand them; we are also launching a non-examinable standardized training manual for use in schools by already trained club handlers with adequate knowledge on trending environmental issues,” Bello reiterated.

He said the environmental education was geared towards developing a populace that is aware and concerned about the environment and its associated problems; adding that those equipped through training would seek remedies to environmental problems and prevent the new ones.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mrs Belinda Odeneye, said that the care for the environment could be achieved through knowledge acquisition, attitudinal change and development of individuals capable of taking actions on environmental issues towards achieving a sustainable environment.

She said alot could be manufactured from non bio- degradable materials such as plastics, nylon, used tyres and this can be achieved through recycling as well as reusing.

The Environmental Bees Club and Training Manual for Handlers of the club was later offically unveiled by the First Lady, assisted by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources and other dignitaries.

Awards were also presented students and pupils who distinguished themselves in the essay competition and to various environmental ambassadors.