NIGERIAN STUDENTS USE POETRY TO ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
The poetry competition involved all the ninety-nine schools in the District, however, only fifteen finalists from fifteen schools made it to the finals, and in line with the objectives of the World Poetry Day, especially as related to restoring a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting.
Penpushing further reports that, the fifteen finalists in their presentations demonstrated the convergence of poetry, theatre, dance and arts to convey the message of climate change and its impact in Nigeria, while most of the poetic recital were preceded by dramatic introduction.
A student of Ikotun Senior High School Lagos, Basit Saba in his presentation said, “we made it happened, burning of bushes, felling of trees and we accused the gods of chiding us in wrath, clean the land, clean the earth, stop the smoke in every form. If we all turn deaf ears, where shall we go from earth?”
Penpushing also reports that Miss Omoyemi Sodiq of Stadium Junior Grammar School, said, “Climate change, who are you?” You are a global challenge. You respect not all national borders. A threat to humanity! Your threat requires urgent climate action’’.
Similarly, in her presentation titled, ‘Mother Earth’, Miss Bolanle Bolaji of Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior grammar School, noted that “Mother earth sits quietly and in pains, suffering through high temperature, through global warming, through malnutrition, through heavy rainfall, through sea level rising, and through rising infectious diseases.”
Penpushing further reports that, in a highly poetic flow, Miss Saidat Lamina of Iju Senior Grammar School said, “What about our plants and trees? Mother earth needs some bees; on the trees and some honey bees. Global warming is everywhere; Climate change is already here; there is a lot of things we can’t bear. Let us save our mother nature; Let’s give it a perfect structure.”
The Director of United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Mr Ronald Kayanja, while speaking at the occasion called on schools and stakeholders in the education sector to revive the oral traditions of poetry recitals.
Penpushing reports that, Kayanja who was represented by the National Information Officer, Dr Oluseyi Soremekun, explained that poetry not only unlocks the creative potentials in people, it also contributes to language skills development, builds confidence in public speaking and asserts people’s identity.
The Director pointed out that, poetry has no particular language, stressing, “poetry is universal. It can be written and recited in any language, including indigenous languages. Poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace.”
The Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary of Education District 1, Dr (Mrs) Olayimika Ayandele, while addressing audience comprising of students, school=ol principal and teachers expressed gratitude to United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) for its consistency in educational programmes and FABE International Foundation, for providing prizes made of upcycled wastes recovered from the environment.
