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The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Enugu State and the Office of the Senior Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development, brought together over 50 students, teachers, and stakeholders at the Parliament Hall, Enugu State Post Primary School Management Board for a one-day training on the use of the Climate Education Manual that was launched by Enugu State Government in March 2025.
The manual was co-created by teachers and students and spearheaded by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, with funding from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. It was designed to equip students with essential knowledge and practical tools to address climate change.
Speaking at the event, the wife of the governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, who was represented by the wife of the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinyere Ugwu, described the initiative as a great idea coming from the office of the SA to the Governor and encouraged the teachers to champion and sustain the novel initiative in the state.
“The role of the teachers is critical in making this process a success to train the students to be climate Ambassadors,” she said.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Environment in Enugu State, Prof Sam Ugwu, who was represented by the Director, Department of Climate Change, Enugu State Ministry of Environment, Dr Nnamdi Arum, thanked the SA and the Office of the First Lady for putting up the initiative, which has become an avenue to empower the younger generation on how to be alert to climate change challenges, including the best and most sustainable ways to address climate impacts.
“This initiative is a significant step towards empowering our educators and students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and address climate change. By equipping them with the tools and resources outlined in the Climate Manual, we can foster a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship in our schools and communities,” he stated.
The Chairman of Enugu State Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB), Rev. Fr. Dr Hillary Mgbodile, thanked the SA and the Office of the First Lady for the laudable initiative and also prayed for the sustainability of the project and scale-up of the campaign to other schools in the State.
“I commend the SA and the office of the first lady for this great initiative and urge the staff and students present to take the knowledge home and pass it to their colleagues in their various schools,” he noted.
The Director of Schools Services, Enugu State Ministry of Education Mrs. Zita Oba, who was represented by Mrs. Agbo Nkem, thanked the first lady and the SA’s office for the laudable initiative, and for coming back to fulfil their promise of training the staff and students, and also encouraged that this kind of gesture be scaled up to all the schools in Enugu State including primary schools, to ensure sustainability
The event covered training from experts on some topics from the climate manual which include: Climate Change Evidence and Causes, Our Environment and Human Impacts on the Environment, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Climate Solutions: Renewable Energy, Clean Cooking and Climate Change Careers and Becoming a Green Ambassador (Environmental School Club).
There were also hands-on training and practical exhibition by the students on how to make briquettes from scratch. Equally demonstrated was how to make an ottoman chair using plastic waste from the environment.
According to SPP, the next stage of the training will involve the establishment of green clubs in secondary schools in Enugu State, with the schools that participated in the one-day training serving as the pilot hubs.
By Anieze Ethelbert Elochukwu, Policy Analyst at Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP)
