By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
In a concerted effort to enhance environmental consciousness among students, Honorable Yusuf Idris Amoke, the Special Adviser on Climate Change to the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, underscores the critical importance of educating students about global warming and strategies to mitigate environmental degradation.
Emphasizing the pivotal role of climate education, Amoke stresses its impact on raising awareness among students about coexisting harmoniously with plants and animals within their surroundings.
He advocates for the incorporation of trees in all schools to combat erosion and various forms of environmental degradation. Additionally, he calls for the establishment of Green Clubs across all schools in the 23 local governments of the state.
Amoke asserts that geography studies empower students to acquire diverse skills for protecting their environment, asserting that geography teaching excels when it equips young people for an increasingly globalized economy.
To disseminate awareness about climate change in the country, Amoke proposes several approaches, including leveraging social media for news sharing, referencing scientific research and evidence, providing real-life examples, discussing global solutions, and encouraging personal actions to combat climate change.
In a bid to intensify awareness efforts, he suggests displaying awareness posters and promoting climate change-related art in schools to sensitize students through creative expression.
In response, Mallam Nurudden Bello, the Director of Womanhood College of Health Science and Technology in Kaduna, underscores the significance of educating school students on effective strategies to combat issues related to climate change and environmental degradation.
Expressing delight over the visit by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Climate Change, Honorable Yusuf Idris Amoke, Bello highlights the threat posed by climate change to humans, animals, and other living organisms.
This sentiment resonated during the Awareness Week at the school, where the Department of Environmental Science and Dentistry invited Amoke to enlighten hundreds of students about climate change.
Bello underscores the urgency of engaging students in learning diverse methods to protect their environment and ecosystem, particularly as the entire country grapples with extreme heat due to climate change.