Secondary school students drawn from environmental clubs across Anambra State have pledged to drive climate action and sustainable practices in their schools and communities following a three-day E-STEM training organised by the Green Environment and Climate Change Initiative (GRENCHI) in Awka.
The intensive training exposed participants aged between eleven and twenty to practical skills in renewable energy, air and water quality measurement, biodiversity monitoring, mapping, basic data analysis and water conservation in agriculture.
At the end of the programme, the students said they were not only inspired but equipped to begin immediate action.
The training was funded by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and Pratt & Whitney, and implemented in collaboration with local partners including Greenage Technologies, the Departments of Crop Science and Horticulture as well as Forestry and Wildlife at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK).
Others are the Sahelian Institute of Bamboo Research and Entrepreneurship Development (SIBRED), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Quality participation
Speaking at the close of the programme, GRENCHI’s Programme Lead and facilitator for Water Conservation in Agriculture, Dr. Ropo Apalowo, expressed satisfaction with both the content delivery and the students’ enthusiasm.
“We exposed them to both theory and practical knowledge. The students now understand what a hydroponics system is and how to plant using soil-less media. They also know about vertical farming and the different media they can use in crop cultivation.”
According to him, the highlight of the training was the visible excitement among participants as they encountered concepts and techniques not typically taught in conventional classrooms.
“The most important thing is their eagerness to learn. Almost all of them confidently said they would practice what they learned when they return to their homes, schools and communities,” he noted.
“Before now, when they heard about agriculture, they thought about the stress involved. But now they know that even in their school uniforms, they can plant vegetables in their verandas and around their homes.”
“We now have a group of young people who are not only educated in theory but also know how to implement these changes. When they return to their schools, they will act as peer educators,” he said.
Dr. Ropo assured that GRENCHI remains committed to sustaining the initiative. “We are a passionate organisation. As long as there are students willing to learn and partners willing to support us, this programme will continue in the years to come,” he said.
Teachers drawn along
Community Engagement Officer of GRENCHI, Grace Okoro, also described the training as a success, commending the turnout and active participation of both students and teachers.
“It was awesome. We gathered seasoned resource persons who trained the students in three core areas. In each section, there were practical demonstrations, and the participants were deeply engaged.”
“They should take what they have learned back to their schools, homes and communities. Those who learned solar installation should practise it at home and in school.
“Those who learned biodiversity monitoring should continue identifying and observing flora and fauna while those trained in water conservation and soil-less farming should begin to implement it.”
Okoro disclosed that the students are expected to return later in the year to pitch project ideas inspired by the training, expressing confidence that the outcomes would be impressive.
For many of the students, the experience marked a turning point in their academic and environmental journey.
Charles Ogbaga from Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka, said the training broadened his understanding of agriculture beyond classroom theory.
“What I’ve learned is that agriculture is beyond what we learn in school. It is practical.
“Planting crops without soil is something we have never been taught before. And hydroponics uses far less water compared to conventional farming. If conventional farming uses 100 percent water, hydroponics uses about 20 percent.”
Eye-opening experience
Nonye Okpor Ginifor from Nwafor Orizu College Demonstration Secondary School, Awka, described the training as eye-opening.
“I learned the art of hydroponics, where plants derive their nutrients from water instead of soil.
“I also learned that about 80 percent of water used in regular watering evaporates. But with drip irrigation, water goes directly to the roots, conserving it.”
He also highlighted vertical farming as a space-saving innovation that allows crops to be grown using simple materials such as cut bottles arranged vertically.
For Emmanuella Okoye of Community Secondary School, Enugu-Agidi, the renewable energy component stood out.
“I learned about solar panels, solar energy and different career paths like solar technician and energy auditor.
“I even learned how to connect the solar panel to the MPPT, then to the inverter and back into the solar system.
“If solar panels are installed in my school, it would reduce the unreliable electricity supply affecting ICT.”
Obianuju Ejiofor, an SS2 student of Saint John of God Secondary School, Awka, recounted her hands-on exposure to biodiversity studies, including field observations, zoo visits, forest exploration and mapping exercises for a proposed 0.5-hectare school forest project.
“With this knowledge, I can monitor plants and animals to help balance the ecosystem and discourage poaching,” she said.
As the curtains closed on the three-day event, one message resonated clearly among participants: they are poised not just to learn, but to lead environmental change from their classrooms outward.
