Foundation trains 23,000 students in 5 yrs on green skills

The Foundation for a Better Environment (FABE) has in the last five years, trained over 23,000 students across 112 schools in Lagos and Ogun States on green skills to prepare young people for opportunities in the circular economy. 

Temitope Okunnu, founder of FABE, who spoke during the EcoSchoolsNG climate and circular economy summit in Lagos recently, said equipping school children with knowledge on climate change, waste management and circular economy practices would help build a generation capable of addressing environmental challenges while creating sustainable livelihoods.

She disclosed that the initiative has so far impacted over 23,000 students across 112 schools in Lagos and Ogun states, equipping them with skills such as recycling, composting and upcycling.

“Our young leaders are people who should be leading today,” she said. 

Okunnu noted that targeting school children is essential because they represent the generation that will shape the future of the environment and the economy.

She added that the green economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, stressing the need to prepare young people to participate actively in it.

The programme, now in its fifth year, began in 2020 through a partnership with Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, and runs as a 10-month intensive training programme focused on climate and environmental education.

Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, said initiatives that focus on environmental awareness among children align with the state government’s sustainability and waste management policies.

Wahab, who was represented by Michael Bankole, director of Climate Change of Environmental Planning department, said teaching children about environmental responsibility could help drive behavioural change within families and communities.

“We take our children seriously. We believe that teaching a child something can change their family, and this can change the whole community. We also believe that everybody needs to be part of the campaign,” he said.

He further encouraged students at the convening to think creatively about recycling and upcycling waste materials, as they can generate new solutions to environmental challenges.

Meanwhile, Abiodun Owo, programme manager at Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, said that many students involved in the programme are beginning to turn environmental solutions into entrepreneurial opportunities by converting waste materials into useful products.

“Keep the momentum going, keep building,” she told students at the convening, adding that “whatever it is that FABE has chosen to do based on the experience that they have, we will support them.”

The event brought together over 100 secondary school students across Lagos and Ogun to showcase their crafts, pitch their business ideas to a panel, and celebrate the International Day of Zero Waste.