In commemoration of the World Environment Day 2020, a Non Governmental Organization, Emeraldscape Environmental Development (EMEND), has thrown open a writing competition for undergraduates of Nigerian universities.
The World Environment Day is marked on June 5, the same day for the deadline of the essays’ submission.
“Biodiversity Conservation and National Development : Potentials and Challenges”, is the topic of the essay competition that is to be submitted to:
https://tinyurl.com/Emendbiodiversity
According to the organisers, the submission format should be: Full name; Institution; Faculty/Department; State/LGA Origin; Sex and Phone Number. Also, various cash gifts awaits the champion, second and third positions.
Addressing a press briefing, Adefunke Anoma, alongside a co – founder, Olayinka Balogun, said: “In Emeraldscape Environmental Development (EMEND), one of our focal object is to engage the youths to have sustainable environmental mindset. To see environment as a means to an end which is survival, and not an end in itself. One of the steps we have taken in that regard is through our ongoing essay competition to mark this year’s World Environment Day. The Theme for this year is “Time for Nature”
“We discover that talents and skills abound in the youths and we believe that for us to win this war to protect the environment, we need the youths as a major ally. They are the present and the future equally belongs to them. We have many more youths based programs lined up for them at all levels.”
She also noted that “a sustainable environment is the heritage of coming generations”. They need to prepare ahead for the environmental challenges which lay ahead. No sane person messes with his/her heritage. I therefore call on even children to fall in line and join in the movement for care of nature and sustainable environment.”
EMEND is more focused on reforestation to curb air pollution, prevent flooding and conserve biodiversity both at the urban and rural areas. “We frown at indiscriminate deforestation in the name of development. Our inordinate appetite to ‘reinvent’ places in which we live and work has placed heavy burdens on demand for raw materials. Unfortunately this is costly to the environment and by extension to all living organisms. Following that closely is management of wastes.”
The NGO said humans, ironically constitute a major obstacle in the call for sustainable environment, noting that: “With the level of ignorance people display, coupled with outright fiendish attitudes toward the environment, we human beings constitute the greatest obstacles to ensuring sustainable environment.
“Our footprints everywhere we go to on the planet earth is despicable to say the least. Meanwhile we have forgotten that our absence means nothing to nature. Covid-19 pandemic ought to have taught us all enduring lessons on that. Mother earth healed and flourished during the total lockdowns globally in major industrial cities.
“All of us living today are paying for past generational use of the environment. We are currently on environmental loan, you may call it overdraft. Our children after us will offset the bills. Thus we need to be environmentally responsible.”
