Spotlight Epe: Lagos Lagoon climate response project launched

In Saga and surrounding villages, Ejirin and Oriba school kids went home with books covering Basic Science, Mathematics, English, Agricultural Science, Civic Education, Biology, dictionaries including exercise books, with the objective to advance access to education. 

MORE than 800 students of primary and secondary schools in Saga, Ejirin and Oriba — three coastal communities on the Lagos Lagoon in Epe — have received donations of textbooks and educational supplies.

This is one of the activities of  a project titled Lagos Lagoon Climate Response – Support for rural communities living along the Lagos Lagoon faced with the impact of climate change. It is delivered by the NGO Help Africa Initiatives (HAI) in collaboration with partners, Eyes of a Lagos Boy, Healthinika, Mitimeth, Ecolearn ng and Lagos State Waterways Authorities LASWA with the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Events were held at the three different schools and towns between October 14 and 24.

In Saga and surrounding villages, Ejirin and Oriba students went home with books covering Basic Science, Mathematics, English, Agricultural Science, Civic Education, Biology, dictionaries including exercise books, with the objective to advance access to education. The Elejirin of Ejirin Oba Rafiu Ishola Balogun, admonished students at Lofi Ogunmude Comprehensive College Ejirin to “Make sure you study these books and follow your teacher’s guidelines, there are governors, ministers and presidents sitting among you”.

The medical team led by Dr Tuyi Mebawondu conducted health checks and provision of medicines to all, while informing pregnant women, young and old about common diseases in these villages, counselling them on how to prevent them. Already, over 1000 residents of the villages have received health interventions and much needed referrals to mitigate the lack of access to public health services. The project runs till March 2025 and more targeted actions on the health front will be implemented.

WITH the anticipated end of the rainy season, many women in these communities are already drying water hyacinth to be braided into ready raw materials. With rapt attention, they followed instructions by Achenyo Idachaba Obaro of Mitimeth that has commenced training sessions that will run for the next three months on how to convert the stubborn sea weed into valuable economic products.

Project Coordinator, Bolaji Alonge said, “We have been working with the coastal communities of Epe since 2018 and today, we have a common front implementing this project as partners with the communities. We are tackling their issues of concern together.”

The SDG project also addresses climate change. Ecolearn.ng discusses the topic at local level through assembly lectures on transforming waste to wealth, to promote better local practices in terms of water management and sanitation.

“Help Africa Initiatives implements a holistic approach to local sustainable development, to generate employment and to impact the lives of children attending public schools in these communities as well as supporting public health service provision. Do you know that Ayomide Bello, Nigeria’s first female Olympic flatwater canoeist and Tokyo 2020 participant, is from Saga village? This corner of Lagos brims with talent,” added Alonge.

TWO of the three communities – Oriba and Saga are accessible only by boat.

Sanne Chipeta, representing the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the book donation, school assembly and heath checks in Ejirin on Wednesday 16 October. In her opening remarks she noted that the project that the embassy is currently funding is expected to provide for improvements in four areas:

Sanne noted “I am particularly happy for the invitation to be here today to witness the launch of some of the activities. The support that we can provide here now is modest and we are fully aware that real long-lasting impact in terms of improving living conditions in these coastal communities will require much more than this project. I therefore also want to extend my gratitude to other partners that are engaging in these efforts, we highly appreciate the joining of hands to start working towards the goal of improved living condition and resilience of the communities in this area and I will urge all parties, the community members in particular, to continue putting serious thinking and creativity into the development of innovative solutions towards the common goal now and in the future.”

Until the end of March 2025, monthly visits will be carried out by the team and partners to these communities. More school assemblies will be held to learn and brainstorm collectively on climate change, critical thinking and creative writing. An exhibition is being planned in April 2025 that will document the project, putting a spotlight on Epe and its coastal villages.

Help Africa Initiatives HAI was set up in 2012 with the aim to help humanity through health, education, sheltering, food provision, orphanage homes and other humanitarian services. HAI including its partners has solid local expertise within public health and experience in terms of campaigning for better livelihoods for the target community.

MitiMeth was established to address the negative environmental and social impacts resulting from waste by creating new sustainable materials derived from invasive aquatic weeds and agricultural residues.

HAI and its partners have for the last five years been engaged in advocating for improved services, and also in promoting livelihood activities related to the utilization of water hyacinth as well as public awareness raising. HAI has an extensive network of public and private stakeholders that are essential to the success of this project such as LASWA (Lagos State Waterways Authority), local government in Epe and rural communities, public health authorities and private partners.