Driving Sustainable Practices in Local Communities: A Step Beyond Dialogue
In the aftermath of the Look Beyond Oil conference, our commitment to fostering sustainable practices has taken a significant step forward through a community-focused approach. Recognizing the critical need to connect meaningful dialogues on transitioning from oil dependency with the indigenous communities that host oil companies, we are launching initiatives to mitigate the adverse impacts of oil exploration.
Abiye Tara and Tonye Briggs panelists at the Look Beyond Oil Conference
Engaging with Community Players for Sustainable Empowerment
One of our primary sustainability plans is to engage deeply with community players and leaders of sustainable economic empowerment schemes. By mentoring youths and teenagers on sustainable practices and teaching them skills specific to their environment, we aim to improve their standard of living and provide them with sustainable career paths. This initiative, though costly, is essential for driving real transformation. Beyond dialogue, strategic advocacy, particularly through economic empowerment, is crucial.
Lincgreen conducting livelihood analysis in Nembe Creeks, Bayelsa State
https://youtu.be/jAqnRIt_NHQ
Video Above shows Lincgreen team engaging Youth Corps Members in Isoko North LGA (a flood Prone community) in the formulation and training of Flood Emergency Response Team
Highlighting Abiye's Tara Impact: Waterside Community Initiative
Abiye Tara, a panelist at the Look Beyond Oil conference and founder of The Waterside Community, exemplifies the kind of transformative work we aim to support. Operating in Okrika Local Government Area, a region severely affected by oil spills that have devastated local fishing and agriculture, Abiye has bravely introduced her waste-to-wealth fashion craft initiative. Relocating to this area, she mentors youths, particularly girls, to look beyond oil by embracing craftsmanship, fashion, style, waste transformation, and education.
Waterside Community (Abiye Tara) engaging Okrika Secondary School Girls in a Waste Transformation empowerment Training
Waterside Community (Abiye Tara) engaging Okrika Secondary School Girls in a Waste Transformation empowerment Training (Indigenous Craftmanship)
Her efforts address critical issues such as teenage pregnancy, criminality, and poverty. By training and mentoring these young individuals, she provides them with the skills and mindset necessary to create sustainable livelihoods.
Addressing Critical Issues in Okrika
The Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State Nigeria, faces numerous challenges. The detrimental effects of oil exploration have rendered the land unfit for agriculture and the ocean unsafe for fishing, leaving many farmers stranded and impoverished. This situation has forced many young people into illegal oil exploration as a means of survival. The resulting economic hardship has left many children out of school, exacerbating the cycle of poverty and limiting future opportunities.
Abiye Tara's efforts address these critical issues by providing alternative means of livelihood. Her initiative helps young individuals develop skills that are not only sustainable but also economically viable, offering a pathway out of poverty and a break from the dependency on illegal activities.
https://youtu.be/FPbbrOiTl2M
Tara's Very captivating contribution at the Look Beyond Oil Conference as she explains her passion for grassroot development in communities affected by OIL spillage (Waterside Communities)
Amplifying Efforts through Collaboration
To amplify these actions, we are calling for partners to extend our reach. Our target is to train 500 girls each month, and by partnering with Abiye Tara and The Waterside Community, we aim to expand this initiative across every coastal community in the Niger Delta, especially those affected by climate crises and oil exploration, such as Gokana, Ogoni, Tai, Akuku-Toru, Ahoada, and Nembe.
Abiye Tara Training Girls in craftmanship skills, using plastic waste to create fashion designs
Abiye Tara Training Girls in craftmanship skills, using plastic waste to create fashion designs
This pilot scheme has proven effective, and by pushing this initiative at the grassroots level, we can drive significant change. We seek partnerships to upscale and expand our reach, enabling us to transform the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, reduce vulnerability, and increase resilience.
Niger Delta Youth Transformation Plan Through Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihood
The Niger delta region of Nigeria is rich in culture, craftmanship, agriculture and human capital, however due to the abundance of Oil exploration activities, many young people have taken arms; some in violent protest for their share in the Oil money, which has been exploited by the IOCs to create a divide and rule structure therefore sponsoring youths' restiveness so they can achieve their evil aim.
View of a coastal community in Niger Delta, Nigeria - Source, Lincgreen Initiative
This is a burning issue in Niger Delta, and to tackle this issue, efforts must be made to transform the minds of the younger ones, this will be achieved through mentorship and economic empowerment. Youths would be encouraged to move beyond oil as we highlight the dangers, effects and negative socio-economic impact over the years as well as showing the opportunities in different field as we have begun to do.
This is the LINCGREEN STEP DOWN INITIATIVE and WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE, therefore we call on our esteemed climate champions to help spread the word and support this vital work. Together, we can ensure that climate justice is served and work towards our global climate goals through sustainable practices. By driving sustainable practices and economic empowerment, we can create a brighter, more resilient future for the Niger Delta and beyond.
Lincgreen engaging an all girls community in Okrika LGA, Nigeria in a sensitization exercise
https://youtu.be/CzUQk8vhjHM
Video highlights some issues in Okrika LGA, Nigeria , relating to the effects of oil spillage to the livelihood of Okrikans
Written By
Diolu Tobechukwu Prosper
Co-founder, Lincgreen Climate Change Initiative
Nigeria.
diolutobe@lincgreenprospects. org
+2347039734721
