As part of activities to mark the 2023 International Children’s Day, Ocean Ambassadors Foundation (OAF) organized a strategic enlightenment conference on marine environment management for secondary school students in Lagos.
The summit availed young students an opportunity to learn about the challenges posed by improper waste disposal, especially plastics on marine life and shipping.
Delivering the lead presentation, Dr. Awwal Bamanga, Assistant Director, Marine Environment Management Department, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) stressed that such campaigns and education are vital to increase awareness and promote behavioural change is key to addressing menace of marine litters.
Bamanga, at the Children’s Day School to Sea Career Tour, at the LTT Coastal and Marine Services Limited also simplified the theme of the day ‘Marine Litter in our Waters and the Negative Impact on Blue Economy with Solutions’ for the students.
He, however, observed that there was need to prioritize research in the future focusing on where the litters come from and strategies to mitigate it.
“Other recommendations in addressing the marine litters are long-term engagement with industry in addressing waste management issues, giving consumers incentives to recycle persistent materials.”
“There is need to prevent and reduce the production and consumption of environmentally persistent types of plastic and this can be addressed in part through further research and development,” he posited.
He equally pointed out some sources of marine litters to include unprocessed waste from sewage treatment plants, items washed down from rivers, fishing equipment abandoned by boats.
Bamanga listed some of the ways to mitigate marine litters as: legislation, involvement of stakeholders, recycling, mapping out where the litters emanate, reducing collection and others.
According to him, the threats posed to the marine environment by litters include; habitat damage, hazard to navigation, ingestion by fishes which lead to death, entanglement and economic cost.
Meanwhile, Managing Director, Marine Division Lagos Channel Management (LTT), Mr. Kalusky Yechiel, expressed delight that Nigeria has begun prioritizing education on marine litters and waste management especially for young children.
“Education is the first step to addressing this menace of marine litters and waste management, but it shouldn’t stop here. Private sector companies must partner with government in preserving the nation’s ecosystem. I am excited with the level of education around waste recycling and marine litter management. What we are doing here today is the first step to clean Nigerian environment,” he said.
He, however, encouraged the Nigerian government to learn from other nations who currently utilize recycled paper bags, instead of the nylons and plastics commonly used in Nigeria.
On her part, the Chairperson of the event and Chief Executive of Mulifelong Motors, Princess Mulikat Sanni, opined that education without morals can be likened to a tea without sugar, adding that she was glad that emphasis was on clean environment.
Sanni also admonished the girls to prioritize decency in their physical appearance, conduct, speech and all aspects of their lives.
“When you take a drink, look for a waste bin to dispose the cans or bottles. We should also look towards adding value and preserving the environment,” she said.
Earlier, the President, Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, Mrs Violet Williams, noted that the objective of the programme was to stimulate the minds of the young students that they shouldn’t dispose plastics haphazard, not even in drainages.
“Charity begins at home, so we have to prioritize the need to educate these young ones on the right things to do. A letter will also be sent to management of each school that came today for them to have marine litter advocacy clubs, so that more awareness will be created,” she remarked.
