Calling Africans to protect environment

A HUMANITARIAN and an environmental and climate activist – that’s how 27-year-old Nigerian Goodness Dickson describes himself.

As the chief executive of the Ecoclean Foundation, Dickson started his activism six years ago on social media while studying geography and then IT in 2015. “My educational background in the field of environmental science made me take that drastic step.”

In January 2019, he was inspired to use social media for environmental activism when he saw Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, eight-yearold Indian climate activist Licypriya Kangujam, Ugandan Vanessa Nakate, Kenyan environmental activist Elizabeth Wathuti and other youngsters, do the same.

For Dickson, his activism serves as a voice to all Africans to take urgent action

EDWIN NAMAKANGA to address the global climate crisis now.

“The weather condition of the school where I obtained my first degree has the highest temperature at about 47°C. That alone is enough to speak out and lend my voice. More people are now getting involved and more awareness is been created.”

For Dickson, though the AP photo cropping incident of Nakate was racist, it has helped put a spotlight on the work of sidelined young African activists.

“I strongly believe it created more awareness to our climate activism in Africa and Nigeria,” says Dickson.

“The challenges that I and other African climate activists are facing is the role of the media. They need to be professional in reporting and also try amplify our voices so that leaders in authority can take drastic action immediately.”

In Nigeria, the response to his work is minimal. “The government is not really considering the environment as one of the major challenges. The biggest issues are funding and awareness.

“I run an organisation that will be a means of reaching out to more people and also in carrying out environmental projects in Nigeria, but we have less to no funding or support from government, NGOS and philanthropists.”