Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and its partners organized a two-day event from Monday, 24^th April to Tuesday 25^th April, 2017 to commemorate this year’s World Earth Day and brainstorm ideas to make bio-energy available and effective for end users. The two-day event held at the Appropriate Technology Enabled Development Centre in Warri, Delta State.

Campaign for Environmental and Climate Literacy

This year’s commemoration is the second time PIND Foundation is joining the rest of the world to observe World Earth Day. For last year’s Earth Day PIND invited some stakeholders and featured the “Nowhere to Run” documentary by the Yar’adua Foundation amongst other activities; the discussions that followed that event spurred the celebration of World Environment Day in June 2016. The outcome of the two events in 2016 opened discussions for collaborations with various individuals and groups giving birth to PIND’s current memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE).

The first keynote address was given by Hon. Niyi Akinyugha on the theme “Environment and Climate Change Literacy”

First keynote address by Hon. Niyi Akinyugha on Environment and Climate change literacy. #EarthDay #ATEDEarthDay pic.twitter.com/8tePaI3TYH

— Niger Delta Link (@_NDLink) April 24, 2017

Deputy Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Prof John Arubayi also addressed attendees on behalf of the VC Prof Akii Ibhadode

DVC of @FUPRE_Res, Prof John Arubayi giving a keynote address on behalf of the VC Prof Akii Ibhadode #EarthDay #ATEDEarthDay pic.twitter.com/qQfUB5HLwR

— Niger Delta Link (@_NDLink) April 24, 2017

Other resource persons discussed issues like Waste Management systems and Simple sustainability practices everyone can imbibe

One eyebrow-raising moment during the event was when young Favour Ogbareimu of Dore Numa College, Warri mounted the podium to speak on Hand washing practices and hygiene

Speaking now is little Favour ogbareimu of Dore Numa college Warri on Hand washing practices and hygiene #EarthDay #ATEDEarthDay pic.twitter.com/R25YFpjBMq

— Niger Delta Link (@_NDLink) April 24, 2017

Bio-digester: The way forward

The brainstorming session held on Tuesday 25^th, 2017 and it featured discussions around the following:

• Ideas to create awareness of this approach in renewable energy in our communities

• Various costs implications, affordability, investment and market opportunities for Entrepreneur, SMEs, etc.

• Research ideas on possible local materials sourced freely in our environment that could be used for the production of biogas technology

• Ease of maintenance and operations by mostly the rural dwellers in our remote communities

• Pushing for policies that will drive the development of the biogas subsector within the Renewable energy mix due to poor awareness

• Policies to focus on developing biogas technology locally to prevent foreign companies taking over the industry in Nigeria

• Ideas for the use of biofertilizer in the Agric sector.

Resources persons spoke on very interesting topics like how to create power from Urine and how biogas can power development

Abiodun Jegede, a Biotechnology Researcher at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife talks about the use of #Biogas for Development pic.twitter.com/kIRVxI1bIH

— Niger Delta Link (@_NDLink) April 25, 2017

Participants also broke into groups to come up with solutions on how to make bio-energy available and effective for end users.

The consultants have been broken into different groups to brainstorm and discuss on how @PINDFoundation can promote Biotechnology #ATED pic.twitter.com/5g48YqJHMZ

— Niger Delta Link (@_NDLink) April 25, 2017

Presentations were made by each group and at the end of the event a white paper was drafted to be forwarded to various stakeholders for action

All these are part of PIND Foundation’s efforts to pursue peace, prosperity and a clean environment in the Niger Delta thereby contributing to the attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

For more about PIND Foundation and its activities with its partners visit www.pindfoundation.org