Adress by the Hon. Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, at the 78th general assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria on the topic: “environmental issues and synergy with the media in relation to effective public enlightenment” on Thursday, 12th October 2023, at Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja.

Protocols.

I am deeply honored to stand before you today as part of the 78th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria. As an institution that plays a pivotal role in shaping our national discourse, cultural values and information dissemination, BON holds the power, not just to inform but, to influence both the attitude and behavior of Nigerians. And so, with that power comes a great responsibility to positively shape public opinion towards protecting, preserving and conserving our environment.

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving media landscapes, the role of broadcasting in our society has never been more significant. You have a duty as broadcasters to inform, educate, entertain and to inspire responsible citizenship. You are the conduits through which the voices of the nation are heard, and you must carry out this task with utmost integrity.

The crucial intersection of environmental issues and the role of the media in fostering effective public enlightenment in relation to the unprecedented challenges facing humanity in the form of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution, all a consequence of suboptimal environmental responsible human activities over the years cannot be over emphasized. Climate change is the most pressing and most threatening issue facing humanity today which according to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, is akin to “humanity opening the gate of hell”.  In Nigeria we see the effects of climate change manifesting as desertification, desert encroachment, land degradation, flooding and erosion all occurring on a grand scale and demanding our immediate attention and action.

As broadcasters, you occupy a unique and privileged position to drive meaningful change in our approach to dealing with these environmental challenges through awareness creation, sensitization, information dissemination and education to promote environmental responsibleness. Climate change is caused mainly by human activities such as burning fossil fuel for industrial and domestic use, tree felling, bush burning and over consumption.

These activities have resulted in irreversible increase in global temperature and extreme weather conditions as listed above. I am not trying to alarm us, but I must let you know that these extreme weather conditions are here with us and all we can do now is to slow down the rate and limit global warming so that things do not get worse than we currently have and adapt to the current realities.

As you are probably aware, Nigeria is one of the top 10 countries in the world most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. We are extremely vulnerable to droughts, floods, landslides, gully erosion, and windstorms. If no actions are taken towards Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), it is predicted that by 2030, Nigeria will be one of the ten countries globally most at risk of disaster-induced poverty.

The other 2 planetary crisis of pollution and biodiversity loss is essentially also due to ignorance and environmentally toxic human activities. The poor management of our waste, our over-exploitation of earth resources and the low value we placed on circularity, conservation and preservation have all conspired to put us where we are today.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguish broadcasters, this is where you come in. One of the key mandates of the Ministry of Environment is the crucial aspect of raising public awareness and promoting better understanding of the environment. As a government, we recognize the power of broadcasting and its ability to reach millions of households, making it a potent tool for public enlightenment. I therefore want to use this opportunity to call on the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria to come on board with us more frontally and more robustly to reach out to the public on these environmental challenges. Yours is an organization of repute, highly experienced and well spread out to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

You have a responsibility to use this enormous power wisely and effectively to educate the public on these global environmental challenges especially as they affect our dear country. This means providing accurate information, explaining complex concepts and show-casing real-world solutions such as, spotlighting success stories of communities, businesses and individuals making positive environmental impacts. In so doing, you would not only have showcased innovations and sustainable practices but, inspired others to adopt similar approaches, encourage replication and scaled up the initiatives.

Therefore, synergy is the key to success in addressing these critical environmental issues and saving humanity from climatic extermination. At moment, we are working very closely with environmental correspondents of your different media organizations to inform and alert Nigerians on climate change issues. In the coming days, the Federal Ministry of Environment will be coming up with a more aggressive and more robust environmental education and awareness framework that will leverage on the power of entertainment to promote environmental responsiblenes.

I look forward to working in collaboration with you as a body, and your individual members. By working as partners, we can access valuable resources, gain access to data and research, and ensure that we are adequately well-informed and impactful to advocate for sustainable practices in our industry, from reducing carbon footprints in broadcasting operations to promoting eco-friendly lifestyles through our content to contribute to a greener future.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR through his 8-point priority agenda and his courageous decision in ending fuel subsidy is demonstrating the centrality of climate action and sustainable environmental management as a panacea to long term development and economic health of Nigeria. Nigeria needs to start thinking of beyond oil and gas, not only for economic reasons but more importantly for survival reasons.

In conclusion, let me reiterate that in order prevent worsening climate disasters and irreversible effects of climate change, the world’s average temperature should not exceed that of pre-industrial time by more than 1.5 degree Celsius. To achieve this, we all have a role to play by reducing our carbon footprints and increasing our carbon sequestration. Instead of petrol- or diesel-powered generator, use solar or wind, reduce your energy consumption, adopt compressed natural gas to power your car and work towards an electric car, reduce your waste by repurposing, reusing, or recycling, be moderate in consumption, plant trees, avoid burning and carry your neighbors along in the crusade.

Let us work together, amplify our voices, drive change, and collectively arrest the climate change threatening our survival and the health of planet earth. Let us embrace partnership, cooperation, and collaboration as a force for positive transformation and sustainable future.

Thank you.

‘Wale JUNAID

Office of the Honourable Minister of State

Federal Ministry of Environment Mabushi,

Abuja, Nigeria.

Tel: 234-803-5671-917

email add: [email protected], [email protected]

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