Govt educates children on environmental protection

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has partnered with the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency to educate children about environmental protection in a day-long boot camp tagged ‘Eco Explorers Bootcamp.’

The boot camp, which was held on Saturday at the Dr. Oluyomi Abayomi Finnih Park by Opebi Link Bridge, Lagos, was aimed at inspiring kids to connect with and cherish the natural world while teaching them sustainable environmental practices.

Speaking at the event, the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, explained that they were hoping to make sure that children imbibed the knowledge of the environment and transmitted such knowledge to their friends.

He said, “We’ve done quite several things. From air pollution to water pollution, to land pollution to making sure that natural resources are protected, wetlands are protected, all kinds of things across different spheres, and the entire range of environmental activity.

“We’ve been very active, people have seen the immense work we’re doing. I’ll tell you that more specifically, we have systematically and gradually reduced emissions across different industrial activities in Lagos, and we have been very firm with a lot of the advocacy we do.”

The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Environmental Protection, Adebowale Tolulope, said the programme was an advocacy created for children to learn more about environmental protection and to become responsible for the environment.

She said, “This is an awareness programme on environmental protection. This time around, our focus is the children. We want them to imbibe the habits and culture that they will take into their adulthood and make them responsible citizens and enable them to take actions that will protect the environment.

“We are looking forward to reducing climate change, global warming, and the rest. These habits and culture, when they assimilate them, will help them to make better decisions that will help the environment in the long run.”

At the boot camp, children were taught how to protect natural resources like animals, and how to recycle waste materials.