NGO to sensitise FCT communities on effects of climate change
NAN-AE-19
Sensitisation
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Aug. 30, 2017 (NAN) The Foundation for Economic Empowerment and Educational Development (FEEED), a NGO, says the organisation is committed to sensitising the public in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the effects of climate change.
Mr Kelvins Dzeremo, the Executive Director of the organisation, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Dzeremo said that the organisation would start the first phase of the sensitisation on Chukuku community in Kuje Area Council, FCT.
“We discovered that many communities in the FCT are suffering from serious environmental challenges.
“We decided to intervene because we want to ensure that environmental issues are addressed appropriately.
“We are going to carry on the exercise, even to other communities in the FCT, but for now we want to finish with Chukuku community before extending it to other areas of the FCT,’’ he said.
According to the executive director, the effect of climate change and other environmental issues today is as a result of human activities.
He said that what the organisation was doing was to sensitise the residents of the community on climate literacy and the negative impacts of destroying the natural resources of the earth.
“This is a real problem that needs concrete solutions. The devastating effects of climate are ostensible in the day to day life and they have the potential to alter the destiny of mankind.
“Helping to tackle the problem is part of the organisation`s objectives. We are taking the lead by informing the community about the complex reality of climate change.
“It is our moral duty to give our coming generations a safe and healthy future,’’ Dzeremo said.
Dzeremo said that it had constructed two boreholes for the community, adding that about 90 per cent of their water sources had dried up.
He said that boreholes were less likely to become contaminated than hand dug wells.
“Sometimes the community makes use of hand dug wells, which was not healthy for their health.
“The community complained to us that one of its major challenges is lack of water, so we intervened through the support of Global Environmental Facility (GEF).’’
He said that the organisation would also train the community on skill acquisition, adding that the training would build the capacity of the community, especially the youths and women.
The executive director, however, advised the residents to be mindful of the kind of activities they do in their environment. (NAN)
VOE/COF/GY
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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Grace Yussuf