World Cleanup Day 2024: Ecosteward Foundation Call for a Cleaner, Sustainable Future On World Cleanup Day 2024, millions of people around the world unite with a shared purpose: to demonstrate that the future of our planet is in our hands. This year, as we face increasing challenges such as pollution, climate change, and environmental degradation, today’s actions are a powerful reminder that when we come together, no problem is too big to solve. Mr. Nweze Emmanuel Obinna, Program Director of Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation (EHF), remarked that World Cleanup Day 2024 is a global call to action that transcends borders, cultures, and ideologies, reminding us that the well-being of our Earth is a collective responsibility. “Every piece of waste removed, every community that participates, brings us one step closer to a cleaner, healthier planet,” he said. He emphasized that today’s efforts will have long-lasting effects, reducing pollution in our cities, restoring nature’s balance, and protecting ecosystems for future generations. Beyond the act of cleaning, this day symbolizes a shift in mindset, inspiring lasting behavioral change and moving us toward a more sustainable future. “Let’s join hands, take pride in our actions, and commit to making every day one where we respect and protect our environment. Together, we can turn the tide on waste and build a cleaner, brighter world for all.” Our efforts today will ripple into the future, reducing pollution in our cities, restoring nature’s balance, and safeguarding our ecosystems for generations to come. Beyond the physical act of cleaning, this day represents a shift in consciousness, inspiring lasting behavioral change and driving us toward a more sustainable future. Mr. Lucky Abeng, Research and Policy Director at Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation, also highlighted the urgency of the global waste crisis, stating, “Our planet is in need. The growing waste problem threatens not only ecosystems but the health of every living being. Yet today serves as a powerful reminder that small actions, when multiplied by millions, can create real change.” He emphasized that by cleaning up streets, parks, beaches, and forests, we are not just removing trash, we are sending a clear message of care for our Earth and the future of our children.
Pollution Management: Nasarawa school gets eco-friendly toilet
Pollution Management: Nasarawa school gets eco-friendly toilet As part of effort to address plastic pollution and end open defecation in public schools, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Ecocykle Development Foundation, in collaboration with Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation (EHF)/Lift Humanity Foundation (EHF); Global Recycling Foundation; African Environmental Awareness Initiative and Step-Up Green Climate Warriors Initiative, has constructed a toilet with 6,500 plastic bottles at the Nyanya-Gbagyi Primary School, New-Nyanya, Karu Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State. Turning Waste into Innovation: The PET Ecofriendly Toilet Project Speaking at the commissioning of the toilet, Mr. Nweze Emmanuel, Program Director, representing Mr. Pius OKO, the Executive Director of both Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation and Lift Humanity Foundation, discussed the PET Project’s efforts to tackle environmental and social challenges. This initiative tackles the critical issue of plastic pollution by upcycling over 7,000 PET bottles per toilet into durable sanitation facilities. In addition to reducing plastic waste, these toilets help combat open defecation, promote hygiene practices, and equip youths with valuable skills in the circular economy. By involving local communities in waste collection and construction, the project not only advances environmental sustainability but also fosters social empowerment and creates economic opportunities. Regarding the project’s impact and sustainability, Mr. Nweze emphasized that its benefits go beyond environmental gains. The initiative improves public health by reducing water, air, and soil contamination caused by open defecation. Furthermore, each eco-friendly toilet stands as a model of sustainable development, contributing to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ecocykle said the project was aimed at addressing open defecation problems commonly practiced in rural and suburban public schools, while also promoting effective waste management, promoting good hygiene practices and mainstreaming the circular economy among young people in Nigeria. The Executive Director of Ecocykle, Aliyu Sadiq, said, “We see plastic pollution as a critical issue in the world today affecting not just Nigeria but other countries, and this has lots of impacts on human and environmental health. Our focus as an organisation is to provide solutions that are innovative and actually create change. So, we look at this project as one that doesn’t just address plastic pollution, but also critically looks at the issue of open defecation. “When we came to this school, we found out that many pupils and students had the issue of toilet facilities, so we integrated addressing plastic pollution, as well as helping solve the problem of open defecation, and that was how we came about achieving this toilet facility today, which is eco-friendly.” Also, the students of Nyanya-Gbagyi Secondary School were taught how to make artworks with the covers of plastic bottles. A Senior Secondary School (SSS) 2 student, Ojochena Jubril, said, “We humans live on the planet and so it is our duty to make it a safer place for all living things. We all need to recycle waste in a sustainable manner in order to make lives safer.” He added that Ecocykle and EHF would replicate the project in as many places as possible until plastic waste became scarce. Daily Trust reports that plastic pollution has been identified as contributing to the climate change crisis. According to the Geneva Environment Network, “As 99 per cent of plastics are made from fossil feedstocks. Plastic pollution is indubitably linked with climate change “Plastics are threatening the ability of the global community to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C, as greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted throughout the plastic life cycle.
Empowering Responses: Stakeholders Unite to Validate Referral Pathway for Survivors of Rape
Empowering Responses: Stakeholders Unite to Validate Referral Pathway for Survivors of Rape. In a crucial step towards enhancing support for survivors of rape, Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation and other stakeholders recently gathered for a landmark meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. The focus: to validate and update the referral pathways designed to guide responses to this pervasive issue across Nigeria. The meeting, which began with a national prayer and welcome address by Dr. Elizabeth Jeiyol, underscored the critical need for coordinated action. Dr. Jeiyol highlighted the alarming frequency of rape cases affecting women of all ages and backgrounds, stressing the inadequacy of current societal responses. Central to the meeting were clear objectives: ensuring consistency in updating the referral pathways, presenting stakeholders with the revised guidelines, and inviting their feedback to refine these protocols further. Participants, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), actively engaged in discussions that traced the pathways’ evolution from earlier national guidelines to the current standards. Key areas of focus included policy guidelines rooted in Nigeria’s legal framework, such as the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act and the revised National Gender Policy. These guidelines serve as a foundation for structured responses when survivors interact with healthcare providers, law enforcement, NGOs, family members, or witnesses to incidents. Throughout the meeting, stakeholders emphasized critical recommendations. These ranged from advocating for enhanced healthcare access—advocating for free medical care similar to maternity services—to strengthening police accountability and fostering community support networks. Special attention was given to the unique needs of disabled survivors, calling for tailored assistance and accessible services. The culmination of the meeting saw stakeholders unanimously validate the updated referral pathways, marking a significant step forward in coordinated efforts against gender-based violence. Dr. Jeiyol concluded with a call to sustain these collaborative efforts, ensuring that survivors receive the comprehensive support they urgently need. This gathering not only affirmed commitment but also set a precedent for future engagements, demonstrating the power of collective action in safeguarding vulnerable members of society. As Nigeria continues to address the complex challenge of rape, this unified approach promises hope for a safer, more supportive environment for all.
Environmental challenges: Expert urges stakeholders to intervene, support vulnerable communities
Environmental challenges: Expert urges stakeholders to intervene, support vulnerable communities The Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation (EHF), Lift Humanity Foundation (LHF), and other NGOs have called on all relevant stakeholders to support and intervene on those vulnerable communities, youth and women, affected by climate change and other environmental crises across the country. Executive Director of the EHF and LHF, Pius Oko, said this at a post-COP 27 and Road to COP 28 Consultative Dialogue, on Thursday, February 2, 2023, in Abuja. It was organised by EHF and LHF in collaboration with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Education as a Vaccine (EVA), and GreenFaith. Oko said that the collaboration of the relevant stakeholders would help to pressurise developed countries to redeem their financial commitment and other support. He said that such intervention would aid in addressing environmental crises for those vulnerable communities, the youth and women, thereby assisting in promoting smart agriculture and other activities in the country. According to him, “we want all stakeholders to come together and ensure that the voices of the vulnerable, those that have been suffering from the impact of climate change, are heard. “It is not a discussion for policy makers, it should be a decision that concerns people at the grassroots, so let us come together and make sure that voices are being heard through strong advocacy. “Yes, we strongly need more advocacy and sensitisation, especially to those climate deniers who have refused to understand the impact of climate change in our environment. “Climate change issues are too important to be left in the hands of deniers. “So, we need to educate them to let them know that the climate change we are talking about is real and it is impacting us negatively.” Oko said that in 2022, floods claimed lives of Nigerians, displaced millions of people and washed away hundreds of farms and farmlands across the country. He said that the issues would continue in frequency and magnitude, if the present trend could not be reversed to build climate resilience. He urged stakeholders to strongly put more strategies that would support the implementation of programmes and decisions taken in 2022 at COP 27, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. He, however, called on Nigerians to intensify more action, especially at the community levels, to ensure that the environmental crisis was tackled effectively. The Chief of Mission to Nigeria, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Laurent de Boeck, said that climate change, environmental degradation and disaster were reshaping contemporary human mobility patterns around the world. Boeck said that an extensive array of international agreements and frameworks attest to the urgency of addressing climate change and human mobility together. He said that Nigerians should integrate climate risks into humanitarian response plans and programming to ensure response to climate-related displacement. The Executive Director, Education as a Vaccine (EVA), Toyin Chukwudozie, said that the organisation had a discussion with women and girls in various states affected by climate change and other environmental impacts. “After the discussion, we recommended that there should be a guaranteed equitable participation of women and girls in all their diversity in climate change policy process, programming and decision making at all levels. “There is a need to have a gender balance and inclusion in selection of decision-making bodies such as the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and other relevant committees.” Chukwudozie said that women and girls should be involved in conversations about the climate change issues to enable them make solutions on how it can be tackled.
Nigeria Can Pave the Way Towards an Inclusive Renewable Energy Future, Ecosteward Foundation Call for Collaborative Efforts
Mr. Pius OKO, Executive Director of Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation (EHF) and Lift Humanity Foundation, opened the workshop by stressing the urgent need for a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. While Nigeria has committed to climate action through its Energy Transition Plan (ETP), the implementation has been slow in achieving its ambitious targets. The ETP aims to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, ensure modern energy access, and promote economic growth, while also addressing job losses in the oil sector. He emphasized that as a rapidly developing nation, Nigeria faces rising energy demands driven by its growing population and expanding economy. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution to meet these needs, while reducing reliance on finite fossil fuels. However, effective governance is crucial for the successful integration of renewables into Nigeria’s energy mix. Governance frameworks—encompassing policies, regulations, and institutions—play a pivotal role in either supporting or hindering renewable energy development. Therefore, assessing Nigeria’s current state of renewable energy governance is essential to identifying potential challenges and opportunities for improvement. According to Mr. OKO, the workshop highlighted a policy brief that assessed renewable energy options in Nigeria based on factors such as cost, capacity, environmental impact, job creation, and security. The assessment revealed that energy efficiency and biomass currently represent the most economically viable renewable energy options for Nigeria, while solar, geothermal, wind, nuclear, and hydroelectric energy were considered less cost-effective. However, the findings suggest that despite initial investment advantages in energy efficiency and biomass, it is important to explore the potential of alternatives like solar, geothermal, and wind energy for long-term sustainability. An open panel discussion, moderated by Lucky Abeng, EHF Policy and Research Director, focused on the implications of the policy brief. Stakeholders emphasized the need for ongoing engagement, media advocacy, funding, capacity building, political will, and involvement of sub-national governments in renewable energy governance. The session concluded with a strong call for collaboration among investors, the media, and associations to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in Nigeria. On the second day, the EHF team visited the Karu Local Government Legislative Chambers in Nasarawa State, where they engaged parliamentarians on renewable energy governance. Led by Program Director Emmanuel Nweze, the team underscored the importance of political commitment and policies to drive renewable energy initiatives. The LHF also presented a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster partnerships on renewable energy projects. Ameedat Abdulsalam, EHF Project Manager, outlined the workshop’s objectives, including raising awareness of Nigeria’s current energy challenges and the benefits of energy democracy. The event underscored the vital role of civil society in bridging the gap between high-level policy discussions and practical solutions, contributing to energy democracy, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability.
IWD 2023: EHF and LHF CALLS FOR ACCELERATED GENDER PARITY TO PROMOTE ENERGY DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA
International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated globally on March 8, honors the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year’s 2023 theme, #EmbraceEquity, emphasizes the importance of embedding gender equity into the fabric of every society. In commemoration of #IWD2023, the Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation (EHF) and Lift Humanity Foundation (LHF), serving as the coordinating platform for the Africa Coalition for Sustainable Energy & Access (ACSEA) of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), are calling for accelerated gender parity to promote energy democracy in Nigeria and across Africa. They advocate for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls to help them realize their full potential.