CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A research Institute, Eko Innovation Center in Lagos, has launched another project known as Eko Climathion 1.0 on how to tackle climate change by using the available technology in finding solutions to save the world from calamity.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the project was launched on Friday at Eko Innovation Center located at 50 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, in conjunction with Generation Unlimited 9JA and the United Nations as represented by Chief of Field Office, UNICEF in Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere.
The CEO, Eko Innovation Center, Mr. Victor Afolabi, while declaring the event open, explained that the Eko Innovation Center, which was founded three years ago, decided to embark on the project to find solutions to the issue of climate change that has posed serious challenges in the World peace over the years.
He said it was on the basis of the challenges that the idea of how to use technology as advantage to solve most of the problems caused by climate change.
Those who spoke during the event included Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tunbosun Alake, who spoke through Zoom, stated that innovation and technology should be used to solve most of the challenges posed by climate change and it should be embraced and encouraged by all.
Another speaker at the event was the CEO, A4&T power solutions, Mr. Ayo Ademilua, who also suggested that it was time to embark on innovative ideas by using what we have in our local environment to effect change.
While the founder of Lekki Urban Forestry and Animals Initiative, Mr. Desmond Olumuyiwa, commended the initiative for working towards finding solutions over climate change which is threatening the world peace, he noted that some of them has been raising the alarm on the dangers of climate change for over 40 years and expressed satisfaction that it is now getting attention in the world to secure the future of children.
Speaking on partnering with Eko Climathion, the UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, stated that they were partnering with them because it was a public enterprise.
“I am the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office and lead, Generation Unlimited Nigeria. UNICEF spearheads an initiative called Generation Unlimited Nigeria. This initiative is a public-private youth partnership, which aims at crowding in all types of actors public, private and youths with young influencers and I showed young people on board on that platform to align programs, funding and activities that are aimed at helping young people transition from any kind of learning to any kind of earning. We are basically preparing young people for the world of work whether it is through entrepreneurship, through job placement or anything that comes before to prepare young people for the world of work, so skill acquisition and working experience.”
“We do not talk in monetary terms as such, we are not a funding or fundraising organization; we are crowding in partners with their own funds and their own programs to align and make sure we are coordinated for the support we all provide for young people age 20-24 when it is about giving them the right education, the right digital skills, the right job related skills,to livelihood opportunities, to engagement and as a result have a much larger impact at scale.”