From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
In a united efforts to drive environmental awareness and stimulate intellectual growth among Nigerian youths, C-Circle Foundation for Sustainable Health and Environment, a non profit and a non governmental organization (NGO) in collaborative partnership with Rotary Clubs of Owerri Uptown, Owerri Metropolitan and Owerri has organized debate among 15 secondary schools in Imo State with Great Insight High School, Owerri emerging the overall winner.
The well attended event, which marked part of the activities for the 2025 World Environment Day with the theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution,” was held recently at the Auditorium of Owerri Girls Secondary School,Owerri with.Great Insight High School, Owerri piloted by Master Emeka Benneth with Miss Michelle Nwali and Miss Stephanie Charles took first position while
Owerri Girls Sec. School, Imo Girls Secondary School, Owerri, Urban Development Secondary School World bank new Owerri and Ideal International Secondary, Ikenegbu Owerri emerged the Second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively
Dr. Chimere Ohajinwa, Team Leader of C-Circle Foundation for Sustainable Health and Environment and the National Schools Debate, earlier in her speech observed that “this is not just a debate — it is a journey to discover voices, ignite critical thinking, and build young leaders who will shape a better tomorrow.”
Ohajinwa gave criterion for the debate to includes; clarity and articulation, content and evidence, organization and structure, team coordination, rebuttal and counter arguments, presentation and delivery, time management and persuasiveness.
According to her, “having successfully organized inter-school debate competitions across various states over the past five years, this marks C-Circle Foundation’s first edition of schools debate in Imo State, expanding her reach and impact”.
She disclosed that the topic of the debate as ; Is Recycling Single Use Plastics Better Than Banning Them and this she noted as the contentious issue of the debate and for the students to have come out boldly and talk about the topic, they must have made some critical researches that could helped them in deepening their knowledge and consciousness on environmental issues as well as sharpened their public speaking oratory prowess, “thus with 15 secondary schools in Imo State competing among themselves is not a mean feat”.
Ohajinwa, who also pointed out that her NGO is committed into advocacy, training and research on environmental and health related matters, “especially, on how our environment could affect our health”.
She further informed that one of the fundamental ways of creating awareness of the impacts of environment to human health is by organizing debates aimed at creating consciousness so as to catch them young.
“One of the Organization’s flagship programmes, is World Environmental Day and we organizes schools debate to commemorate same. We have done this for the past 5 years in Abuja and its environ, so this the first time we are moving outside Abuja environmental territory to organize secondary schools debate. We’re conscious of the fact for reaching out to other geopolitical zones, thus why, we are in Owerri for this year, World Environmental Day celebrations” she insisted.
While stressing the importance of educating the public on the dangers of environmental and health of poor plastic waste management, she also reiterated the need for stronger partnerships to scale up the debate initiatives, with a vision to include more schools in future editions and deepen their impact across Nigeria.
Earlier, in his good will message,Sir Ejikeme Emenike , the Imo State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation who was ably represented by Mrs.Seconda Okoro, a Director in the Ministry, thanked the organizers of the Inter-School Debate competition as part of their efforts to promote environmental awareness and to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day (WED).
Emenike re-emphasised that WED
has been a platform for raising awareness on environmental issues ranging from the
conservation of the marine ecosystem, global warming, sustainable development and wild life conservation amongst others, noting this year’s WED theme “Ending Plastic Pollution” as apt, considering the devastating impacts of plastic waste in the nation’s ecosystem.
The Commissioner also noted that exposure to plastic pollutants have been linked to various health problems, including
cancer, reproductive issues and neurological damages, lamenting over scientific concerns that micro plastics often finds their route into human bodies through some of the creams and even the textiles we put on.
He however observed that ending plastic pollution in Nigeria is a complex challenge, but it is achievable through coordinated efforts involving government, industries, civil Society and individuals.
Emenike insisted that this will not happen overnight, as it requires political will, investment and collective responsibility by combining policy reforms, education, innovation and community action.
“We must reduce exposure, we must also encourage the use of reusable bags Container,organize clean ups to collect plastics and raise awareness. Furthermore, we must educate and promote sustainable practices such as reducing plastic use and
encouraging reuse” he affirmed.
The Commissioner applauded C-Circle Foundation for Sustainable Health and Environment and the Rotary Clubs collaborators for the environmentally friendly initiative of inculcating the awareness and consciousness into Imo youths – “our leaders of tomorrow through the Inter-School Debate competition”.
Adding her voice, Rotn.Olaedo Wilfred Ike Godson, one time President of Owerri Rotary Club Uptown said that the essence of the programme is for the commomeration of 2025 World Environmental Day in line with Rotary Club International environmental protection agenda.
She expressed happiness for the collaborative partnership synergy which three Clubs in Owerri Senatorial Zone of Imo State, that’s Rotary Club of Owerri, Rotary Club of Owerri Uptown and Rotary Club of Owerri Metropolitan have with the NGO in execution of the environmental protection sensitization and awareness creation programme.
The Rotarian described the programme, ” as richly educative, and like a memorabilia for the world environmental day. Fundamentally, the students have been groomed in the acts of public speaking and oratory prowess. They have equally been exposed to some human practices that are hazardous to human life and the environment, in line with the theme of the programme”.
Godson also expressed satisfaction that the programme lived up to their expectations, recalling that Schools Debate has been a pride programme in Secondary Schools curriculum and passionately called for its reactivation.
The Rotarian while commending the NGO, and Imo State government for the partnership in executing the laudable programme, further canvassed on the need for more schools to participate in the subsequent collaborative programmes of the group noting their programmes to be free, strategic way of exposure and networking as well as in the overall benefits of humanity.
Speaking to Journalists, Rotn Chris Anyanwu, the Secretary of Rotary Club of Owerri Metropolitan commended the organizers for their patriotic vision but berated some of the students for speaking below standard with poor conducts, just as he advised teachers on the need to teach the students well.
The highlights of the occasion was open dance by the participants, organizers and other critical stakeholders around.
