RCE Ogun - 2019

Climate change action for sustainable development in Ogun State, Nigeria
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Climate change action for sustainable development in Ogun State, Nigeria
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Ogun
Contributing organization(s) : 
Covenant University
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET)
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Prof Evans Osabuohien
Organizational Affiliation: 
Covenant University
E-mail: 
evans.osabuohien@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Name: 
Prof Peter Odjugo
Organizational Affiliation: 
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET)
E-mail: 
paoodjugo@yahoo.com
Format of project: 
Manuscript, PowerPoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Friday, April 19, 2019
Web link: 
https://covenantuniversity.edu.ng/News/Official-Launch-of-the-RCE-Ogun-themed-Climate-Change-Action-for-the-Africa-we-want#.XMGa7k60c3w
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
The Nigeria Climate Change Policy Response and Strategy
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Paris Climate Agreement
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Nigeria
Location(s): 
Ogun State
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Forest, Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community, Primary, Secondary, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Ogun State is located in the Western part of Nigeria, with a population of 3,728,098 inhabitants. The region has rich deposits of mineral resources such as limestone, granite, glass sand and kaolin, with two of Africa’s largest cement factories located there. The region is also known to have the highest concentration of manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The indigenous people of the region are predominately farmers. Some of the indigenes also engage in ‘tye and dye’, livestock rearing and fish farming.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Nigeria produces about 490 metric tons of greenhouse gases every year. If nothing is done about the emissions from the region, the volume of greenhouse gases produced will continue to rise. This will lead to increasing air temperatures, severe weather conditions, poor urban air quality and health risks such as respiratory illnesses, skin irritations, heat and meningitis. Although climate change is a topical issue globally, climate knowledge including awareness of climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in the region is limited. Dwellers of the region need to become more ecologically-savvy in order to embrace initiatives on climate smart lifestyles.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Rationale: 
Climate Change triggered mostly by human activities has ushered us into a new era of extreme weather conditions, rapid melting of ice and the acidification of oceans. If human activities continue unchecked, natural disasters will become more severe. The effect of climate change is borderless, from China and the United States (the major contributors to climate change) to vulnerable Africa. Africa is more vulnerable to climate change effects because of weak institutional policies, limited funding and the focus on other pain problems like poverty, unemployment and terrorism. However, Africa is already experiencing climate change. Drought and famine in countries like Somalia and South Sudan have worsened because of climate change; Coastal regions in the Southern, Western and Northern parts of Africa are experiencing incessant flooding as a result of rise in sea level. These occurrences can lead to humanitarian crises which will eventually cause displacement of our people. Hence, there is a need for collaborative efforts towards climate change action for the sustainable development of our region.
Objectives: 
The project intends to achieve the following objectives; to:
i. increase awareness about the effects of climate change in Ogun State, Nigeria;
ii. intensify the awareness of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies;
iii. provide weather and climate information to the people of Ogun State, Nigeria;
iv. empower secondary schoolmstudents with information on how to choose careers that will help the society solve emerging environmental problems arising from the impacts of climate change; and
v. encourage active collaboration in tackling climate change
Activities and/or practices employed: 
To achieve our objectives, the first thing we did was to organize a climate change convention on the 4th of February, 2019 with the theme: ‘climate change action for the Africa we want’. The purpose of the conference was to bring together stakeholders in the region to discuss about the effects of climate change in the region and how climate change can be mitigated and adapted. Stakeholders included: researchers, climate experts in the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, government, representatives from manufacturing firms in the region and secondary school students. To introduce the younger generation to climate smart lifestyles, we engaged secondary school students in an essay competition on ‘climate change, Impacts on our planet and my role in mitigating its effects’. Winners of the essay competition are now RCE Ogun Climate Change Ambassadors.
Size of academic audience: 
Secondary School Students: 56; Covenant University Students: 46; Researchers: 50; Industry Participants: 25; Total: 177
Results: 
The following results have been achieved from the project:
i. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between RCE Ogun and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency will be providing a weather station in Covenant University where weather data will be generated for research purposes and for public use.
ii. Climate Change Clubs for secondary school students have been established in 5 pilot areas.
iii. Climate Change activity books and log books have also been produced for the students.
iv. Guided tour to Eko Atlantic City- a 10million square meters prime estate built on reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean. Students were able to see the mitigation strategy used to protect the city from rising sea level which is a threat to many coastal cities.
v. RCE Ogun will be scaling up the project by involving the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) for better industry representation and also the Bank of Industry to see how sustainability requirements can be incorporated into loan applications for both large enterprises and SMEs in the next edition of the climate change convention in 2020.
Lessons learned: 
i. Students and adults should be taught the basics of climate smart lifestyle, environmental cleanliness and protection
ii. Secondary and tertiary students should be empowered with more information on how to choose careers that will help the society solve emerging environmental problems arising from the impacts of climate change
iii. The people in the region need to follow closely the weather and climate information provided by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, which is critical for combating Climate Change through adaptation and mitigation strategies.
iv. Afforestation is a must if we are to improve on the current loss of biodiversity, enhance rainfall and carbon absorption.
v. Manufacturing companies should set sustainable objectives based on the sustainable development goals.
vi. Manufacturing companies should include climate actions in their objectives
vii. Manufacturing companies should include emission reduction initiatives in their annual budget
viii. Corporate Social Responsibility activities should focus more on attaining social and environmental sustainability
Key messages: 
The effect of climate change is borderless. Hence, we owe ourselves and posterity a duty to take climate action for the continued sustainable existence of our region.
Funding: 
Zenith Bank Plc
Covenant University

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon RCE Ogun Climate Change Convention.jpg (1.53 MB) RCE Ogun Climate Change Convention RCE Ogun
Image icon The Great Wall of Lagos at Eko Atlantic City.jpg (1.31 MB) The Great Wall of Lagos at Eko Atlantic City RCE Ogun
Image icon Winners of Climate Change Essay Competition.jpg (1.6 MB) Winners of Climate Change Essay Competition RCE Ogun
References and reference materials: 
PDF icon EKO ATLANTIC 2_Write-up and photos.pdf
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Agriculture 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Indirect
Ecotourism 
Direct
Waste 
Indirect
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
No