NCF, Skangix hosts secondary schools on energy competition
As part of efforts to encourage the use of renewable energy, the Nigerian Conservative Foundation (NCF) and Skangix Development Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to engage junior and senior secondary school students in an environmental essay competition.
The competition which will have 40 schools from private and public schools in the Lagos state education district III will span from February 14th till May 29th, 2017.
Addressing journalists, the NCF Director General, Adeniyi Karunwi, said that the need for children to embrace renewable energy in line with Sustainable development goal is important.
”Renewable energy such as sunlight, wind, waves and geothermal heat is naturally replenished and it never runs out. The need to use renewable energy for electricity, transport or even total primary energy supply globally, has been motivated by global warming, ecological and economic concerns.”
”Globally, about 30 nations, including Denmark, Sweden and China, have renewable energy contributing to over 20% of their energy supplies. Renewable energy enables us to maintain our quality of life while avoiding and reducing the impact of climate change.
Karunwi noted that, NCF’s mission in Nigeria is for people to live in harmony with nature and this also reflects in the need to advocate for actions that minimise the impact of pollution on the environment. Renewable energy is an alternative option to fossil fuel because renewable resources are available to meet the needs of the people if properly harnessed.
Engaging the minds of children, who we all believe are the future is important as Nigeria is a signatory to the Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
One of NCF’s core mandates is Environmental Education, especially for children and we believe that engaging them in an Environmental Essay Competition is a veritable tool towards ensuring their understanding and knowledge of Nigeria’s biodiversity.
“This is the maiden edition of this programme where the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and Skangix Development Limited are blazing the trail in advocating for the use of renewable energy, which contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Climate Action. The Essay Competition would serve as a means of educating the public, especially the youth on the need to embrace renewable energy. The competition will run from February 14 – May 29, 2017. ”
He stressed that, “This initiative underscores NCF/SDL’s commitment to the environment and to the Sustainable Development Goals as listed below while recognising the role of children in the sustainability agenda: Quality education, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action and partnerships for the goal.
According to the Managing Director of Skangix, Sam Coker, Nigeria is blessed with natural endowments, aside its tourism potentials, could be used to educate and inform generations.
Coker also decried the state of energy consumption by Nigerians and the awareness of alternative renewable energy.
However, the competition for junior secondary is centered on “Sun, energy for the future”. While for senior secondary is “The energy crisis: conventional energy vs. Solar energy”.
