British Deputy High Commission Lauds Nigerian Environmental Advocates

The British Deputy High Commission has lauded 25 young Nigerian environmental advocates for their innovation in environmental sustainability promotion at The Dawn Project Award and Prize Giving Ceremony, 2024.

The Dawn Project Awards is a platform that works towards spreading environmental awareness and consciousness in Nigeria through the projection of artistic creations in the categories of paintings, music and creative writing.

The Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Johnny Baxter, stated that the programme presents a valuable platform to showcase the remarkable achievements of young environmental advocates across Nigeria.

In his keynote address titled “Oceans of Opportunities – Preserving Today for Tomorrow,” Baxter highlighted the importance of empowering the next generation of Nigerians to understand and address the challenges of climate change and commended The Dawn Project for its pivotal role in nurturing environmental consciousness among young Nigerians.

He lauded the ingenuity and passion demonstrated by these young advocates stating that it gives the older generation hope for a sustainable future. He also noted that their work reflects a profound understanding of the shared responsibility to protect the planet.

Founder, The Dawn Project, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, in her remarks revealed that there has been improvement in the quality of involvement of young people in the fight against climate change.

She said: “The most encouraging thing for me is the fact that the young people are waking up. They are more alive to this and so hopefully, they will also take this message out.”

The event celebrated winners in various categories namely; creative writing, music performance and visual art, with participants spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.

Winners include; Osaze David Izevbaye, Nakolise Kez-Igbokwe, and Collins Blessing Sophia in the writing category for ages 7-14. Amara Nwuneli, Danisa Emmanuella, and Zainab Tewogbade ame up at the top winners in the 14-17 age group for writing.

For the music category, performances by Ikechukwu Precious, Johnson Courage, and Onyerikam Chioma made the best three.

The event also recognised newly appointed Dawn Project Ambassadors, who will champion environmental awareness in their schools and communities. According to the Ajayi, these young leaders represent the next wave of environmental stewards.

To expand the impact of the project further, this year pulled together greater funding culminating in a 200 per cent increase in prize monies awarded to winners and expanding the number of consolation prizes and recognitions given to participants.

As the world continues to grapple with climate change, initiatives like The Dawn Project serves as a beacon of hope, proving that collective action, especially by young people, can lead to a brighter, greener future.