SOS Children’s Villages has donated N2,887,500 to four climate activists to support their eco-sustainable projects aimed at combating environmental degradation across Nigeria, the body has announced.
Speaking at the event held at the SOS Village in Lagos tagged ‘Empowering Youths for Gender-Responsive Climate Action Project Implementation in Nigeria,’ the Country Director for SOS Children’s Villages, Eghosa Erhumwunse, expressed concern that more than 25 million Nigerians, including millions of children, face food insecurity, displacement, and health risks due to environmental degradation.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat to our nation; rather, it is a present crisis, and Nigeria’s children, youths, and women are among its most vulnerable victims,” Erhumwunse said.
The beneficiaries include Ayodele Joshua, Jennifer Obot, Shukura Akinola, and Hannah Omokhaye, who received grants for their respective eco-sustainable initiatives.
Erhumwunse disclosed that rising temperatures, increased flooding, prolonged droughts, and other effects of climate change are pushing millions of families into hardship.
“It is in response to these challenges that SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria is launching the Eco Champions Project, a global flagship programme designed to empower young people and local communities to lead climate action,” he stated.
One of the beneficiaries, Jennifer Obot from Cross River State, said her initiative, Eco Sustainable Future, would focus on providing climate education and waste management skills for secondary school students.
“We will be teaching them how to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste. We are going to be teaching them how to make reusable bags, which will help reduce the dependency on plastic bags,” Obot told our correspondent.
Another recipient, Shukura Akinola from Isolo, Lagos State, said, “My project would focus on climate education for schoolchildren and market women, as well as promoting proper waste management practices.”
Joshua Ayodele, from Kwara State University, mentioned that his Less Right Project would address high carbon emissions by promoting eco-friendly transportation and sustainable living on campus.
“Nigeria is one of six countries within the SOS Children’s Villages Federation implementing this transformative initiative, placing us at the forefront of grassroots climate resilience and sustainable development,” Erhumwunse added.
The initiative will run for 18 months, focusing on renewable energy adoption, green initiatives, environmental sanitation campaigns, and youth-led climate advocacy through partnerships with government and private sector stakeholders.
