The competition is a key component of the Mbah-Climate Education, Innovation, and Training Initiative (MBAH-CEITI), a campaign aimed at raising climate awareness in Enugu State. This initiative aligns with Governor Peter Mbah's vision to enhance climate education and action within the state.
Governor Mbah's administration is actively negotiating with two international donors to secure funding for various climate awareness projects, including the development of a comprehensive climate policy and action plan for Enugu State. The MBAH-CEITI campaign is one of several initiatives being spearheaded by the Senior Adviser’s Office on Climate Change in collaboration with the state government.
Titled "What measures can Enugu State take to address climate change while also promoting economic growth, and what role can the youth play in this process?", the essay competition commenced on Monday, July 1, 2024, and will run until July 31, 2024.
The competition is open to young adults from Enugu State and residents of the state aged between 18 and 35 years. Prof. Okereke emphasized that the competition aims to increase public awareness and engagement with climate change issues in Enugu State and Nigeria more broadly. He noted that this essay competition is one of many campaigns targeting youth in the state.
“We are developing more public awareness campaigns which include the Enugu State climate policy and action plan, the Enugu State tree planting and urban greening campaign, the Enugu clean cooking initiative, and the Enugu youth technical empowerment programme,” said Prof. Okereke.
He highlighted that these campaigns will not only educate the youth about climate change but also provide them with training opportunities to enhance their capacity for self-sustainability.
Prof. Okereke believes the essay competition presents a valuable opportunity for young individuals to lead and drive climate action in the state by proposing measures that can combat climate change while fostering economic growth. “I am confident that we will receive high-quality submissions from the young people of Enugu State,” he said.
He stressed the ongoing threat of climate change to human existence and underscored the crucial role that young people must play in taking climate actions and participating in decision-making processes to safeguard the environment.
“We plan to organize more captivating competitions to raise public awareness and foster engagement with climate change in Enugu State and Nigeria as a whole,” he added.
The first edition of the essay competition offers cash rewards to the top three entries: N100,000 for first place, N75,000 for second place, and N50,000 for third place.
Young individuals from Enugu State and residents are encouraged to submit their essays by visiting the website at www.enugustatesaclimate.com or calling 07037631055 for further details. The winners will be announced during a hybrid event scheduled for August 30, 2024.
