The Engr. Chief Chukwuemeka Chukwurah Green Energy Foundation (ECCCGEF), on Friday, 25th October, 2024, presented awards to winners of its maiden Green Energy Poetry.

At the event, which took place at the Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Main Auditorium , the 1st prize of N150,000 and a plaque went to Miss Akode Adeola of the Faculty of Law, Ekiti State University; the 2nd prize of N100,000 and a plaque to Ademuyiwa Tooheb Adetomiwa of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Abuja, while a Law student of the University of Nigeria, Alexander Uzochukwu Ejinkonye, received the 3rd prize of N70,000 and a plaque.

According to the Chairman of the 4-member Committee which assessed the poetry works, Dr. Kester Dibia, 151 entries were received from students of tertiary institutions across the country before the curtains were drawn on the competition, while 81 more late entries were turned in afterwards, but not evaluated.

In a welcome address the President of Engr Chief Chukwuemeka Chukwurah Green Energy Foundation (ECCCGEF) , Engr. Chief C. C. Chukwurah, FNSE, FNIM, FNIProcE, said the contest, with the theme ‘Our Climate: Our Future’, attracted promising entries from budding poets among great Nigeria students and congratulated the contestants, especially the winners, on their successful outings.
Engr. Chief C. C. Chukwurah noted that climate change had dangerously threatened the world, which he blamed on humanity’s indiscriminate deforestation of the environment, indulgence in excessive consumerist wastages, with reckless use of fossil fuels to energize human endeavours,

He said greenhouse gases, especially Carbon Dioxide and Methane, had left life-threatening high temperature and warming all over the earth, pointing out that the contestants, by turning in 151 poems, had contributed to mitigating climate change crisis by their brilliant inspiration.
Engr. Chief C. C. Chukwurah thanked the four assessors led by Dr. Kester Dibia of the Dennis Osadebay University, for doing a great job, and appreciated the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ben. Oghojafor and Management of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba as well as the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Leroy Edozien, for his interest and encouragement.

The Foundation President commended the benefactors and donors of the 2nd and 3rd prizes, Sir Cyril. C. Mbachu and Obi C.Ajufo, revealing that he personally funded the 1st prize.
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Engr. Chief C.C Chukwurah promised that, by God’s grace, the Foundation would make the GREEN POETRY PRIZE an annual event, increase its scientific and engineering dimensions in the Fight Against Climate Change, encourage research and development of Direct Air Capture device, partner with Research Centers and Engineering organisations to drive the initiative, in addition to continued advocacy.

He stressed the urgent need to transition from Energy poverty and fossil fuel to Energy Efficiency and renewable energy resources in the war against climate change in the country and called on Delta State Government to revitalise its RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY for urgent and effective implementation.
The Osowa Owelle of Asaba further called on the banks and corporate investors to establish Renewable Energy Industries in the state to properly utilize the vast silica sands on the Banks of River Niger and commended the State Government and the State House of Assembly for proactively making efforts to enact a law to establish the Delta State Electricity Supply Regulatory Agency for enhanced power supply to the people.

In his remarks, the Ubili kankwu of Asaba, Chief Prof Leroy Edozien, who chaired the award presentation ceremony, noted that Engr. Chief C. C. Chukwurah FNSE,FNIM, FNIProcE and his Foundation had made appreciable progress and significant impact in the fight against climate change, through tree planting, awareness campaigns and community engagements, and expressed optimism that the Foundation would gain national and global recognition in the nearest future.
Prof Edozien thanked the assessors, those who sent in entries and the winners for subscribing to the Green Energy campaign through the medium of poetry. Ubili Kankwu Ahaba made a strong case for the addition of the 81 late entries to the 151 assessed, from among which 50 should be selected and compiled in a book, ‘Anthology of Poems on Climate Change’, for reference purposes and to promote the ECCCGEF.

This timely suggestion was welcomed and accepted by the President of the Foundation.
Responding on behalf of the winners, 300 level Law student of the University of Nigeria, Alexander Uzochukwu Ejinkonye, who came all the way from Enugu to received his award, said it was a great privilege for them to have contributed to the Green Energy initiative of ECCCGEF with their poems and expressed appreciation to the Foundation for organizing the novel and noble competition.

The event featured the recitation of the three winning poems to the delight of the quality audience, presentation of goodwill messages by the Registrar of Dennis Osadebay University, Mrs Genevieve Obadan; the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Environment, Dr. Mimi Oseji; Dr. Kester Dibia, the Director of Communications of the Issele Uku Diocese, Rev. Fr. Charles Uganwa, among others.

They all acknowledged the commendable works of ECCCGEF, the authentic public spirit of the Foundation President and expressed their continued support for the programmes of the Foundation aimed at the common good of humanity.

The occasion ended with a brief stop at the Orchard of 40 trees developed at the University for the planting of four new Avocado seedlings by Ubili Kankwu, Prof Leroy Edozien, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Dr. Mimi Oseji, the Representative of Obi C. Ajufo and Dr. Kester Dibia, the leader of the team that assessed the poems.

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