Nigerian youths have been urged to adopt the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in order to advocate for them through dance.
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The charge was given by Wonne Afronelly, the convener and initiator of the Port-Harcourt-Based Environmental Advocacy Group My Environment, My Wealth and The Verdant Circus Africa Foundation, last Friday during the maiden SDG Dance in Elele Alimini, Rivers State, Nigeria.
The event, which was tagged "MY SDG DANCE FOR NATURE," is a concept adopted to educate students in inner-city communities about all 17 SDGs. Participating schools were given Flashcards of all 17 SDGs and advised to choose one SDG to advocate for, through dance.
The event also featured the launching of the first ECO Library in the community to promote SDGs 4, 9, and 11 using discarded plastic bottles.
Ms. Wonne, the Rivers Allied Peoples Movement (APM) House of Representatives Candidate for the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, also reaffirmed her commitment to building and raising Ecocentric beings and Verdants across Africa.
Her words: "We decided to adopt MY SDG DANCE FOR NATURE as a way to promote the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) through dance and entertainment within inner-city communities and educate students on how to impact their society and environment in an eco-friendly way.
"The SDG Dance event is the first of its kind in Nigeria. We had initiated something similar with the #PadUpAndDance event last year in Eleme LGA but the focus was only on SDG 3. This time we decided to dance for all the SDGs. At least 320 students from schools within the 14 autonomous communities of Elele Alimini Town graced the event. We had about 10 competing schools, and 3 winners emerged.
The environmental advocate and politician said the group has the intention of building Community Libraries in all the 774 local government areas of the country and having built one in Eleme LGA, the ECO Library in Elele Alimini becomes second in Emohua LGA.
"The ECO Library is a trademark of myEnvironment myWealth Nigeria, and we intend to build community libraries using discarded plastic bottles in all 774 LGAs in Nigeria." The second ECO library in Nigeria is underway in Elele Alimini Town to promote SDGs 4, 9, 11, and more. It is to be built as a follow-up of the project using discarded plastic bottles already being collected by myEnvironment myWealth in exchange for pads, colognes, books, bags, etc.
"We raised about N170,000 on the spot for support to kickstart phase one of ECO Library in Elele Alimini," she said.
The environmental advocate who is the candidate to represent her constituency in the House of Representatives in the 2023 general elections noted that the event was a great success as teachers, students, chiefs, women, parents, and the entire community were exposed to the core objectives of the UN SDGs, adding that, "our targets for the event were surpassed and we are encouraged to embark on more projects as the community has pledged their unwavering support."
"This is a lifelong project as part of my chosen career in Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Literacy to build and raise Ecocentric beings and Verdants across Africa.
However, politics is one vehicle I must utilize at this time to drive the desired impact. "
The why - A good scenario would be the lackadaisical attitude of the Senate to moving Article 20 of Chapter II to the concurrent list in the 1999 Nigerian constitution. On the 28th of May 2021, I, on behalf of the team at myEnvironment myWealth, made a strong presentation demanding the devolution of power to enable Governors and LGA Chairmen to act promptly in the event of environmental and or health emergencies without waiting on the Federal Government. Unfortunately, this has not been effected as promised by Senator Betty Apiafi and other South-Southern Senators present during the hearing. "
She emphasised that being present at the House of Representatives will change a lot of narratives because of her wealth of experience, as she is qualified and fit to take on the task of effective representation of the great people of Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency-FC/324/RV.
"The foundation laying of the ECO Library has been slated for September 30 2022 during my birthday and official flagoff of Election campaign.
"The # Recycle4Gain, another ongoing project of My Environment, My Wealth and The Verdant Circus Africa Foundation which was launched in 2019 to encourage recycling where household consumables and other items such as sanitary pads, body colognes, books, bags, and reusable water bottles are exchanged for plastic bottles, will run from July to September, 2022 to gather bottles for the ECO Library in Elele Alimini," she added.
The dignitaries that graced the event are Evang Ohna John C. WONNE - 14th Nye Ohna Omuogbor/Nye Ishi Ohna Elele Alimini; Chief Chidi Orji represented by the Vice Chairman - Chairman Council of Chiefs Elele Alimini; Mrs. Salome Igbudu - Chairperson Ele Weré Elele Alimini; Chief Christopher Enyindah - Chairman of the occasion, Barr. Princewill . O. Dick - Mayor League of Gentlemen
Others are: Comr. Benneth Okah, President, National Union of Elele Alimini Students; Deacon Chimex Wejinya, APM Rivers State EMOLGA Chairman; Commander Chidi Agi, Leader, Alimini Security and Peace Advisory Commitee (AliSPAC).
The event was financed by Mr. Isreal Amadi; facilitated and supported by Mr. Coolman Udochi Amadi, Chief Executive Officer of De Easy Cool Digital Productions; Mr. Tedimola Olamide, CEO of Tedis Media; Mr. Victor Okoro of Gospel Warehouse Port Harcourt and hosted by Miss Prudence Wokoma.
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