By Chinedum Treasure
Participants at a three-day E-STEM training in Awka Anambra State, have expressed their readiness to apply the knowledge garnered as their contribution to environmental conservation and the fight against climate change.
The participants mainly secondary school students described the session organized by the Green Environment and Climate Change Initiative (GRENCHI), as revealing, pledging to scale the training down to fellow students in their schools.
They were drawn from environmental clubs in various secondary schools and trained in renewable energy, air and water quality measurement, biodiversity monitoring, mapping, basic data analysis, and water conservation in agriculture.
The programme was funded by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and Pratt & Whitney, with support from local partners including Greenage Technologies; the Departments of Crop Science and Horticulture, and Forestry and Wildlife at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK); the Sahelian Institute of Bamboo Research and Entrepreneurship Development (SIBRED); and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
At the close of the training, one of them, Charles Ogbaga from Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka, described the programme as transformative.
“I’ve learned that agriculture is practical and goes beyond what we are taught in school.
“Hydroponics, which involves planting without soil, is something new to us. It also uses far less water. If conventional farming uses 100 percent water, hydroponics uses about 20 percent.”
Nonye Okpor Ginifor from Nwafor Orizu College Demonstration Secondary School, Awka, said the training was an eye-opener.
“I learned that about 80 percent of water used in traditional watering evaporates. But with drip irrigation, water goes directly to the roots, conserving it.”
He also highlighted vertical farming as a method that saves space and resources by planting crops in cut bottles arranged vertically.
Emmanuella Okoye of Community Secondary School, Enugu-Agidi was thrilled by the knowledge she got from the renewable energy segment.
“I gained practical knowledge about solar panels, MPPT, batteries, inverters and charge controllers.
“I learned how to connect the solar panel to the MPPT, then to the inverter and back into the system. I strongly believe that installing solar panels in my school would significantly improve electricity supply and boost ICT activities.
Obianuju Ejiofor, an SS2 student of Saint John of God Secondary School, Awka, recounted her exposure to biodiversity studies, including plant and animal identification, zoo and forest visits, and a mapping exercise using GPS for a proposed 0.5-hectare school forest project.
“With this knowledge, I can help monitor plants and animals, balance the ecosystem and discourage illegal hunting,” she said.
The students pledged their collective resolve to move beyond learning and become active drivers of environmental change in their communities.
Earlier, GRENCHI’s Programme Lead and facilitator for Water Conservation in Agriculture, Dr. Ropo Apalowo, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the three-day event. “The students were exposed to both theoretical and hands-on learning.
“They now understand what a hydroponics system is and how to plant using soil-less media. They also learned about vertical farming and different planting media for crop cultivation,” he said.
“The enthusiasm displayed by the students is the most encouraging outcome of the programme as they had previously viewed agriculture as stressful and labour-intensive, but their perspective had shifted.
“They now realise that even in their school uniforms, they can grow vegetables in their verandas and around their houses,” he said.
“When they return to their schools, they will serve as peer educators. Young people learn easily from one another, so the knowledge will spread within their schools and communities,” he explained.
He added that the training’s impact extended beyond students, as teachers and other accompanying adults also actively participated.
Replicating the knowledge, he said, would help reduce environmental waste such as plastics and nylon materials, while promoting water conservation practices in agriculture.
Apalowo assured that GRENCHI remains committed to its mandate. “As long as there are students willing to learn and partners ready to support us, this programme will continue in the years ahead,” he stated.
Community Engagement Officer, Grace Okoro, was also encouraged by the active participation by the students and their teachers.
“The students and teachers were excited about what they learned. We expect them to take this knowledge back to their schools, homes and communities,” she said.
Okoro urged participants trained in solar installation to begin practising in their schools and homes, while those exposed to biodiversity conservation should continue identifying and monitoring flora and fauna.
“Those trained in soil-less farming and water conservation, she added, should begin implementing the techniques immediately.
She disclosed that the students would reconvene around June or July to pitch ideas developed from the training, expressing confidence that they would present innovative environmental solutions.
