ECCCGEF Marks 1st Anniversary With Focus On Caring For Mother Earth, Plants Over 70 Trees

The Engr Chief Chukwuemeka Chukwurah Green Energy Foundation (ECCCGEF) has said it has recorded some milestone achievements in the last one year it was founded.

The Founder and President of the Foundation, Engr. Chief C. C. Chukwurah FNSE, FNIM, FNIPROCE, KSM who stated this at the first anniversary of the organisation held at Niger Mixed Secondary Asaba on Wednesday, 31st July 2024, recalled that the vision of democratizing Climate Change mitigation and adaptation was conceived in 2023 during his 70th birthday celebrations.

He stated that since then the Foundation had initiated and executed many programmes as articulated in its 2-year Strategic Work Plan, in fulfilment of the mission of that inspired vision.

According to him, with unity of purpose of the Board of Trustees, the Foundation had registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC),
planted economic trees at St. Patrick College Asaba,(70 trees), Isioma Onyeobi College Asaba, (90 trees) Okpara Waterside Mixed Secondary School Okpara Inland, Ethiope East LGA,(90 trees) Model Technical College Asaba (50 trees) and was at Niger Mixed Secondary School Asaba to plant more trees (71 trees).

“As we plant the trees, we raise Nurturing and Tracking Ambassadors to monitor and ensure that the trees thrive. We raised 52 Tree Planting and Nurturing Ambassadors in all 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State to make our carbon capture efforts via tree planting statewide.

“This is done in partnership with the Environmental Health Officers of Nigeria (EHOAN) Delta State Branch. We are now liaising with the National Body of EHOAN for collaboration to have a national spread in the tree Planting Nurturing and Tracking efforts. This is to enhance and fast-track our determination to earn enough carbon credits and enter the carbon market creditably.

“We entered into an innovative collaboration with Dennis Osadebay University Asaba to jointly organise annual public lectures with the theme “CLIMATE CHANGE & TOTAL QUALITY ENVIRONMENT”. The Maiden edition of this ANNUAL PUBLIC LECTURES was successfully held on 26th June 2024 at the Main Auditorium of DOU Asaba on the topic of BUILDING CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE AND GREEN ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT delivered by Prof Emma Nzegbule of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike.

“A Technical Enlightenment Lecture was also successfully mounted at Model Technical College Asaba on 12th July 2024. The topic was “Understanding the Role of Renewable Energy in Combating Climate Change”. It was aimed at preparing technicians and technologists for green jobs in our emerging Green Economy. It is germane here to call for the manufacturing of solar panels in Delta State, especially Asaba with her abundant Silica Sand from the great River Niger.

“The partnership of the State Government with foreign investors can get this done quickly if we get our priorities right. Other vital accessories of Solar Power Systems could accompany this proposed industrial venture

“We have organised public enlightenment on “Curbing the Menace of Plastics” by Mr Francis Nnaji, MD Plastic Recycling Plant Asaba and “Current Trends in Climate Change in Nigeria” by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment Delta State Dr Mrs Minnie Oseji”.

Engr Chukwurah revealed that ECCCGEF GREEN POETRY PRIZE 2024 with the theme “OUR CLIMATE: OUR FUTURE”, was in progress for students aspiring poets in higher educational institutions in Nigeria, pointing out that four very senior lecturers from the Department of Creative Arts and Department of English, Dennis Osadebay University Asaba, were empowered to moderate the interesting contest.

He said the three prizes for the contest would be awarded to winners on 26th October 2024 to mark the World Day of Fight Against Climate Change at Dennis Osadebay University Asaba.

The ECCCGEF President thanked the resource persons and compatriots who responded positively to the Foundation’s requests with encouragement, goodwill and support in fighting the global threat that the current climate crisis represents.
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On the event of the day with focus on Caring for Mother Earth, the Owelle Osowa of Asaba noted that the earth was endangered in its atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, attributing the dangers primarily to human excesses in exploitation, wrong use of pesticides, refrigerants, fertilizers, bush burning, degradation, wastages of energy and other natural resources which tended to pollute the earth’s environment.

“Pollutants and contaminants so generated affect all aspects of living especially in health, agriculture and other efforts at sustainable development. To care for Mother Earth, we must deliberately and comprehensively avoid these wastages and our excessive consumerist attitudes and practices.

“We must also embrace Renewable Energy, adopt the 3Rs (Reuse, Recycle, Repair) and increase efficiency in all human activities. Many human unchecked activities generate greenhouse gases that trap heat in the environment; completely change predictable weather patterns endangering and eliminating many species in their natural habitats;
resulting in drought and flooding, displacement of human settlements, inducing famine and hunger on the planet”, he stated.

Engr Chukwurah said strategic planning to mitigate the crisis called for all humanity to rise up to the occasion to naturally maintain biodiversity on all parts of the earth. He advocated for the setting up of the Ministries of Environment and Climate Change by government at all levels, with effective policies, plans and programs for the well-being of Mother Earth and the flourishing and purity of her air, water, flowers, fauna, and blossoming of her plants and animal population.

“Manufacturing processes of developed countries, which are the main pollutant-generation culprits, must be innovatively designed and pursued to avoid the emission of massive greenhouse gases. Appropriate stringent penalties should be applied to offenders to ensure Environmental Justice. A Department of Environmental Justice should be created at the United Nations and in all States of the Federation.
Major Oil Companies in Nigeria must also comply with all laws on emission control and gas flares. They should be openly penalised whenever they default, as they have remained defiant. This shows that there is a moral tone in how to care for Mother Earth endorsed by all men of goodwill including the Roman Pontiff.

“Pope Francis issued an Encyclical, “Laudite Si”, on this issue. He also named Care of Mother Earth as the 8th Spiritual and Corporeal Works of Mercy. It is therefore a moment of grace when humanity deliberately becomes kind to our once very beautiful Mother Earth by taking conscious care of our common home. God gave humanity the mandate to dominate and maintain the earth as a luxurious garden. Let’s pursue the mandate with rational care and tenderness to all of earth’s environment.

We propose a mantra of TOTAL QUALITY ENVIRONMENT as the way forward. And the use of Renewable Energy, Planting, Nurturing and Tracking of Trees as major carbon sinks. To embrace this task with heroic self-determined care is the focus of today’s event as well as the planting of over 70 trees in this school premises to mark this august occasion”, the Foundation President concluded.