On World Environment Day, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) appointed Adenike Oladosu, a passionate climate activist from Nigeria, as its new ‘ECW Climate Champion’. Renowned as ‘@The EcoFeminist’ to her social media followers, Oladosu is celebrated as one of Africa’s leading climate activists, representing Nigeria’s youth at the Conference of the Parties (COP) Climate Talks since 2019.
In assuming her new role, Oladosu calls upon world leaders to align climate action with education action, recognizing the urgent need to address the interconnected challenges of armed conflicts, forced displacement, environmental degradation, and climate change. Her advocacy emphasizes the imperative of ensuring access to quality education for millions of crisis-impacted girls and boys worldwide.
“The interconnected challenges of conflict, forced displacement, environmental degradation, and climate change are putting an entire generation at risk. To address the growing education/climate crisis, we must act RightHereRightNow to ensure access to quality education for millions of crisis-impacted girls and boys worldwide,” stated Oladosu.
She highlights the dire situation in regions like Lake Chad, where climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities, resulting in displacement, hunger, poverty, and violence. Oladosu urges world leaders to prioritize education within the global climate agenda as they convene for the Summit of the Future and Climate Talks.
Yasmine Sherif, ECW Executive Director, commends Oladosu as a tireless advocate for climate action, spearheading a global movement to intertwine climate and education actions. She emphasizes the urgent need to address the life-threatening challenges posed by climate change and its adverse impacts on education.
Oladosu’s impressive track record includes founding the “I Lead Climate Action Initiative” and pioneering the Fridays for Future movement in Nigeria. Her efforts have mobilized millions globally to combat climate change, earning her the ‘Amnesty International Nigeria Ambassador of Conscience’ award in 2019.
ECW’s appeal for US$150 million at COP28 aimed to support 2 million children affected by climate change, armed conflicts, and forced displacement with quality education. Denmark’s contribution of approximately US$6.5 million to ECW underscores the critical nexus between climate change and education, setting a precedent for other partners to follow suit.
As climate impacts continue to escalate, disrupting schooling and exacerbating learning losses, ECW remains steadfast in its mission to provide quality education to crisis-affected children. Through climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster risk reduction efforts, ECW strives to offer hope and opportunity amidst the most challenging circumstances.
On World Environment Day, the call to action is clear: to forge a sustainable future, we must empower every child with quality education and integrate climate action into global agendas. As we strive for Generation Restoration, education emerges as a cornerstone for building resilience and fostering environmental stewardship.
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