Lawmaker Tackles Environmental Challenges Through Tourism

….As Seagull Band Takes Centre Stage In Lagos Conference
Recently the Seagull Band of Carnival Calabar led by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa took their campaign to Lagos in a conference organised to educate the public on environmental changes and the dangers of degradations. In this piece, EBERE CHIBUZOR who was at the event highlights efforts made by the group to promote domestic tourism through environmental conservation.

Leader of the Seagull Band, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa used the conference on climate change held recently at the Ballroom of Oriental Hotel in Lagos to educate the public on what to do to save the declining environment globally.

Seagull Band is one of the five competing bands of the annual Carnival Calabar led by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa to promote domestic tourism.

In the conference, the band announced that it was embarking on a tourism show to share strategic insights on major environmental challenges facing Nigeria and the world.

With the theme “A Time for Action’ the conference on climate change and tourism attracted people from all walks of life.

According to the band, it is partnering with different state governments, individuals, non-profit organizations and corporate citizens, including Heritage Bank, NIMASA, Big Cola and many others to really get the point across to a variety audiences globally.

This is also in a bid to ensure that Nigeria’s domestic tourism products are effectively tapped in a sustainable manner
Speaking at the event, the team leader Senator Ita-Giwa noted that the subject matter, which is environment demands painstaking preparation, wide consultation with different experts in Nigeria and abroad.

Incidentally, Ita-Giwa was the chairman of the environment committee at the 2014 National Conference. Her group was at that period dominated with knowledgeable academics and seasoned activists on issues of environment.

Naturally, the Senator did not miss that singular opportunity. She did not only learn fast on the job, the exposure opened her eyes to the damage done to the environment and the imminent catastrophe if not checked.

With hindsight at the National Conference and her commitment to excellent presentations, the Seagull Band took home the top prizes at the Carnival Calabar 2016 contest.

Beyond that, Ita-Giwa decided that the implicit lessons in the Seagull Band interpretation of Climate Change topics were too important to be restricted to the carnival audience only, hence the conference.

Explaining further, Ita Giwa said, “We are trying to preach against the mitigation of climate change. People should know that they should not damage the trees in the bush, they should not block the drainage.

It is important that they keep the environment clean the way God wanted it and not the way man has destroyed it and turn it out to be today. They should also keep the ocean clean of oil spillage.”

The Carnival is not just dancing on the streets and road of Calabar, but it has its own peculiar way of sending a message of effect of Climate Change.

The audience at the Lagos show had the likes of Mrs. Abba Folawiyo, the Emperor of Iwo, Dr. Arnold Udoka and his wife, Pamela Udoka.

There were also delegation of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mazi Nnamdi Ibekwe, Emeka Ukwu, Dr and Mrs. Nicholas Igwe, and Eric Anderson, Commissioner of Tourism, Cross River State among others.

The winning dramatization of climate issues which won the Seagull Band all the categories in the 2016 Carnival Calabar contest were re-enacted in the Lagos conference.

To add colour to the event, Ita-Giwa had gathered a conglomerate of Nollywood stars. Together, they worked on the topics of going green just as they dramatised the importance of green environment.

Some of the top movie stars that were present include: Ini Edo, Mike Ezuruonye, Mr. Ibu and Emeka Onyiocha amongst others.

Daily Times reports that such was the first time in the history of Carnival Calabar that one band won all the award categories.

“We have turned ourselves to climate change ambassadors and now we are going around to do presentations; so that Nigerians can learn.

We want to use this opportunity to disseminate information on the issues of climate change. We want Nigerians to know that Climate change is real”, Ita-Giwa emphasised.

The keynote speaker, Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi who is the Chairman of Nigeria Conservation Foundation Committee on Fund Raising and Awareness painted a horrifying picture of the possibility of Lagos and other Nigerian coastal states going completely under water.

Majekodunmi however, raised hope, that it was possible to put it in check, if we take certain proactive actions, saying “We are dumping 110 million of man-made tons of global warming pollution.

We are doing the total opposite of our designated role and now it has started reacting. 2014 was the hottest area in the history of mankind and this particularly is happening right now.

The fumes of generator are dangerous to human health. If you love your children you should play a part in the solution to fight climate change and environmental issues”.

The entertainment train also had Rita Dominic, Iyanya, Kelly Hansome , Tu Face Idibia amongst others.

The Chairman of the state carnival commission, Mr. Gabe Onah who led a team of officials described the carnival as an oil well, saying that Carnival Calabar is the next big thing after Nollywood, that projects the good image of Nigeria and has the potential of earning foreign exchange for the country through increased number of tourists into the country.

Meanwhile Senator Ben Murray-Bruce who was ably represented by Mr. Guy Murray-Bruce talked on sustainable climate change as the only way out.

Murray Bruce emphasized that the utmost importance of heeding the warning signs which are already evident everywhere; and that humans are fast destroying the fabric of eco-balance that holds the world together.

He applauded efforts of Lagos State for ensuring that they lay down the law to check environmental degradation in the state.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof Evara Esu had pointed out that he was at the event to demonstrate importance the state government attaches to the annual Carnival Calabar.

The high point of the event was when Ita-Giwa, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria came on stage.

Ita-Giwa who came on the stage in her colorful designer’s carnival costume and was accompanied by a group of five 2016 Seagull Band young female revelers to the stage.

On mounting the stage, the group dramatised beautifully the impact of climate change on the ozone layer, which they pointed out includes destruction of farmland that ultimately results in famine and poverty.