A REPORT ON SERIES OF ACTIVITIES ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION CARRIES OUT BY THE MFON EDET EDUCATION FOUNDATION IN AKWA IBOM STATE

INTRODUCTION

The Mfon Edet Educational Foundation has remained consistent and focus in its drive to promote climate change action, environmental awareness, advocacy in promoting these activities through several media. We have particularly created a working relationship with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources to ensure our activities are warmly embraced in line with the ARISE AGENDA and guidelines of Government requirement and standard. We have been able to take our message to Primary and Secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State leaving an impressive impact on the minds of these young ones we describe as Climate Heroes, with the aim of making them change agents in promoting environmental awareness and climate change as well as climate change actions.

Our goal has been to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations by promoting Climate action (SDG13), Clean water and anitation (SDG 6) among others. Our projection is to have an environmentally-conscious people in the society through our sensitization programme on radio, television, conferences, workshops and visit to schools. One of major activities celebrated yearly is the World Environment Day, where we collaborate with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment to organize quiz competition among selected Primary and Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State. We have been able to achieve a milestone by consciously addressing the issues of environmental pollution by educating the populace and students about the dangers of these harmful practices. We are not resting on our oars,with support from the State Government and other partners we hope to do more this year and in future.

MISSION

To educate and empower the citizens as well as make a difference in the environmental safety of the future of their communities.

VISION

To reawaken the need for citizens to be involved in environment protection, helping them choose a better history for themselves. To empower citizens economically through waste management and also help build environmental friendly communities in the state, where vulnerable and disadvantaged women, youths and men will live healthy, safe and sustainable lives and children survival is a right.

CORE VALUES

Compassion, Love, Integrity, Mutual respect for life and environment, Gender Equality, Teamwork.

OBJECTIVES

To create awareness and re-orientate citizens on the effects of environmental pollution and the need for us to protect our environment against effects emancipating from crude oil and gas pipelines vandalism.

To reduce the indiscriminate disposal of solid waste in the state through the education of citizens on the need to sanitise and protect their environments with a view to create jobs and wealth through modern waste management and recycling methods.

To seek ways to divert non-bio-degradable waste such as polythene, tires, plastics and metals from landfills to recycling plants and promote zero waste policy.

To promote a better understanding of the need for environmental protection and encourage investors to set up waste recycling plants and factories in the state.

To design programs that will create opportunities for our unemployed youths to create wealth from waste through their involvement in the collection and sorting of waste for recycling and make a difference in the future of ou rcommunities through environmental safety.

FOCAL AREAS

• Solid Waste Utilization
• Healthier Environment
• Entrepreneurship Development
• Environmental Advocacy

EXPECTED OUTCOME

• Mitigation against climate change footprint.
• The revival of our almost lost heritage and environmental conservation.
• To reawaken the need for us as citizens to protect our communities & environments.
• To create sustainable jobs and also empower our unemployed citizens.
• The creation of wealth through solid waste Recycling and Upcycling.
• Safer communities for our present generation and the future.
• Reduction of health and environmental hazards in our communities.
• To work towards the actualisation of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs).

OUR SCORE CARD.

In February 2023, we paid a visit to three selected Primary Schools in Uyo which included University Staff School, Uniuyo, Qua Iboe Nursery and Primary School, Oku and University Arms Education Foundation, Ekpanya Street for our quarterly sensitization programme among selected schools. We met with the Head teachers who granted us permission to address the pupils on activities on climate change and environmental awareness.

With some pictorial models, we explained waste management and recycling, organic and inorganic waste and proper use of the waste basket. The Head teacher of Qua Iboe Church Nursery and Primary School, Mrs Mmeti Bassey was particularly excited about our visit. Some gifts were presented to the pupils at the end of the day.

In September 2024, we paid a visit to Group School, Usaka Annang in Obot Akara Local Area as part of our Back to school inititative for the new academic session. We got permission from the Head teacher Mr. Abia to address the pupils on the importance of a clean and healthy environment. We sensitized them on the importance of washing their hands regularly after cutting the grasses and using the convenience in school to avoid picking up some bacteria. We also educate them on the importance of using the toilet facilities provided by the Government and avoid open defecation, especially in school environment for this is unhealthy and may cause some form of pollution in the school environment. The Head teacher was impressed by our commitment in promoting climate action among people in Primary Schools especially within the rural areas.

In June 2022, We celebrated the World Environment Day in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources. It was an eventful occasion that had in attendance the then Commissioner, Sir, Charles Udoh, the Director of Climate Change Awareness, Mrs Ini Umoh, the Permanent Secretary and other Directors who were present at the occasion. We had a quiz competition from selected Primary and Secondary Schools from three Local Government Areas which included Uyo, Itu and Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas. Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam emerged winner for the Secondary School category, while Government Primary School, Ikot Ekwere, Itu emerged winner for the Primary category. The students and pupils and students were all preseted with gifts the Foundation, and they were encouraged to put into practiced what they have learnt during the World Environment Day 2022 with the Theme ‘ Only One Earth’ .

In January 2025, we embarked on a radio show to sensitize the people of Akwa Ibom on our climate-smart agriculture series. We educated listeners on the importance of understanding climate change and how it affects Agriculture practice especially with extreme weather condition. We carried out of presentation in three differnet languages of English, Pidgin and Ibibio/Annang so that we could get to a wider audience on XL 106.5 FM. The programme was a success and we hope to continue the series with support and partnership from meaningful organsiations. We also run the climate-smart Agriculture series on social media platform on Facebook and whatssap where we have a number of farmers and Agriculture enthusiasts. We engage experts and professionals in the area of climate- smart Agrciculture to speak to this audience on topical issues on climate change and Agricultural practices.

The impact has been positive. These are some of the activites embarked upon by the organisation in the last couple of our years in our engagement. We hope to do more in future with proper funding and collaboration for the overall good of the pupils, students and Akwa Ibom community at large.

FUNDING SOURCES

• Cash donations from philanthropists.
• MEEF Team self-donations.

Amount: N13,750,000

Mrs. Mfon Edet

Director