Climatologist has called on FG to make Geography education compulsory in both primary & secondary schools, so as to engage more students in protecting their environment.
A Climate change specialist from a non- governmental organization (African- Climate- reporters} Dr Piman Hoffman has called on federal government of Nigeria and ministry of education to make Geography course a compulsory one in both primary and secondary school across the 36 states in Nigeria.
According to him, this will help towards educating more students to be fully involved in all issues related toward reducing more challenges that is been confronted as a result of environmental degradation, and learnt many ways of protecting their surroundings.
Piman makes the appealed during a chat with a team of environment reporters which include print, electronic and on-line papers with bloggers.
He stressed that the importance of Geography education to all students in both primary and secondary schools cannot be over emphasized, simply because Geography is a fantastic subject with extraordinary educational potential for informing future citizens and their surroundings.
Adding that Studying geography gives a student knowledge about different places on earth and how they relate with each other.
“in other to combat desertification, deforestation, climate change and environmental degradation, we have to engaged our little children like what is happen in developed countries where students were educated about their environment in both primary and secondary schools”
He said, Geographical knowledge intersects with other subjects such as Biology and History and can help to gain a better understanding of the ‘big picture’ in these topics.
Geography also gives students the tools to gain an understanding of international matters, multicultural concerns, and environmental matters.
“You learn to read maps, interpret local and global information, and understand international networks for trade and other things”.
He said, to appreciate Earth as the homeland of humankind and provide insight for wise management decision about the planet’s resources, there is need for someone to study Geography.
However, Dr Piman also expressed sadness over scarcity of environmental reporters across media houses in Africa.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of commitment by some media outfits across Africa toward dedicating some reporters to cover environment and science.
“It is really important for every media house in Africa to have a trained journalist that specializes in reporting issues related to the environment.
“Lack of enough environmental journalists in Africa, was becoming a big threat to the existence of plants, animals and even the survival of our forestry.
“Environmental journalists play a great role in the society, like raising awareness about population growth, sustainability, energy conservation, global warming, climate change and acid rain.
“Others include; destruction of tropical rain forest, accumulation of toxic waste, disposal of all wastes, water and air pollution, and all factors that contribute towards degradation of the quality of life.
“Millions of people die yearly as a result of air and water pollution, due to lack of awareness caused by inadequate environmental journalists to report on issues relating to effects on the environment.
“Environmental journalists have the potential to inspire their readers to change their everyday behaviours for the overall betterment of the world around them.
“We have equipped journalists with the knowledge of environmental issues and trained them to support the fight against global warming, deforestation and environmental degradation,” he explained.
Hoffman urged media organizations across the 55 African countries to engage and build capacity for young journalists to be reporting on environment.
He also appealed to veteran journalists to counsel upcoming ones on environment reporting.
In conclusion, he advice that there is need to educate rural and urban women about issues related to climate change using their local language.
While calling on Volunteer environment NGO /CSO to equally takes the Campaign to meet schools students of Arabic schools and the church, not forgotten the temple.
