The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in Kaduna State, with support from the World Bank, has tasked secondary school students on environmental conservation.
During the training, students learnt the art of converting waste into wealth.
Speaking at the Climate Change Action Exhibition and Competition on Waste to Wealth, held in the state, Maurine Oyedoja, the AGILE Environmental Safeguard Officer, explained that the competition involved 42 schools and aimed to strengthen students’ interest in environmental conservation.
She emphasized the importance of students realizing that they can contribute positively to the environment by producing valuable items through recycling waste.
In her remarks, State AGILE Project Coordinator, Hajiya Maryam Dangaji, highlighted the project’s commitment to its “catch them young” strategy to safe the environment.
According to her, the aim is to foster environmental conservation advocates among the students, particularly schoolgirls, to combat climate change.
She said one of the project’s initiatives involves establishing Environment and Community Outreach (ECO ) Clubs in secondary schools across the state’s three Senatorial Districts.
“The Eco Clubs aim to instill in students a culture of tree planting, love for the environment, and environmental protection. The students are trained to capitalize on the profitability of waste management by turning waste into wealth,” she said.
Hajiya Amina Buba, the National Project Coordinator for AGILE, praised the Kaduna AGILE Project Implementing Unit for promoting environmental protection and preservation among students.
She called on the state government to ensure the sustainability of the project’s goals and objectives, emphasizing the importance of improving girls’ access to secondary education and mobilizing students to take action in protecting the environment.
To encourage the students to apply what they have learned and recognize their achievements, an exhibition and competition were organized.
The winners of the competition were announced, with Government Girls Secondary School Maimuna Gwarzo emerging as the champions.
Government Secondary School Kabala Costain and Technical College Malali secured the second and third positions, respectively.