REPORT OF NIGERIAN YOUTH CLIMATE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZED BY AIESEC & NIGERIA YOUTH CLIMATE COALITION [NYCC]

HELD AT HEINRICH BÖLL FOUNDATION NIGERIA, 3RD FLOOR, RUKAYAT PLAZA, 93, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, JABI DISTRICT, ABUJA, NIGERIA

29th February – 1st March 2012 Tel: 08133451818, 07044740667, 08105525536

“Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

BACKGROUND

AIESEC is present in over 110 countries. It is the biggest student-driven organization in the world.

The goal of AIESEC is having a positive impact on society by creating leadership opportunities, by

offering international internships (6-72 weeks) and by providing a global learning environment. This

gives the involved students a unique possibility to gain working experience in a regional, national or

international context: they can lead a team, organize events, cooperate with companies, write

strategy, etc. Another important part of the AIESEC experience is conferences, activities at the

University and networking with different stakeholders.

Furthermore, AIESEC gathers a big number of alumni now active both in a corporate or non-

governmental context.

AIESEC believes that we can make a change happen by making young people discover their potential

to overcome barriers. This is crucial to prevent mistakes that happened in the past to happen again

in the future. All change begins with a thinking that is different. AIESEC changes lives.

The Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC) is a network of young people that provides a robust

platform where youth led organizations working on Climate Change and other sustainable

environmental issues interact and learn from each other, thereby giving a united voice and

coordinating young people's response to climate Change issues, as it affects the socio-economic

growth and development of Nigeria, nay Africa and the world at large.

NYCC hopes to bring together (across states) youth led organizations with common interest to

contribute to sustainable national development. The organization also makes for meaningful youth

engagement in local and national climate policies in Nigeria, while inspiring and stimulating the

growth of the culture of professionalism among young people working for sustainable environmental

balance.

Together we are developing a clear and shared vision for the future of young people in Nigeria, so

that we can save succeeding generations from the impacts of climate change. We work together to

shape our future on Climate Change, attract other partners and prepare the ground for mutual

partnership between young people and policy makers and other stakeholders.

The workshop was organized by the AIESEC and Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition, in collaboration

with 350.org, and Heinrich Böll Stiftung, UN Major Group on Youth and Children.

The workshop which was first of its kind was an opportunity to:

Be able to tell your own stories and to communicate effectively about climate change

and Sustainable Development,

Have a vision for the future and how to tackle climate change,

Be able to identify strategic targets and goals, understand campaign nuts and bolts,

Including the use of media, have more confidence in your leadership abilities,

Be ready to start growing the movement and organizing actions and events.

CONFERENCE OPENING: OPENING REMARKS:

In his Remarks, Mr. Chibueze Eminike – Project Manager (Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation)

welcomed participants and gave a brief background of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation and

its activities from inception. He enjoined the youth to participate in activities in order to ensure

that youth issues especially as they concern climate change and sustainable development are

properly addressed.

DISCUSSIONS:

The workshop featured discussions on Climate Change and Youth Participation at RIO+20,

Volunteer for MGDs, Climate Change and ICT: Using Media to amplify your action, The Power

of One, Tell your Stories. The discussions were held by great minds from different organizations.

Presentation One:

This presentation was tagged “Climate Change and Youth Participation at RIO+20”. The

workshop was facilitated by Nkiruka Nnaemego – CEO Fresh and Young Brains Development

Initiative/West African Coordinator AYICC.

She focused more on the Role of Youth in the upcoming RIO+20 where all participants were

able to know more about the ideas behind the RIO+20.

She also explains in details the position of Nigeria during the conference in Durban COP17

which also leads to the upcoming conference in Brazil.

She advice that the youths of Nigeria should come under one voice to make the position of

Nigeria in the coming conference is a successful one.

She mentioned that we should more focus on the National priorities for the conference

which are: energy, job creation, food security, economic growth, good governance. Our

roles: ask questions, connect, network.

“For our African Leaders, it is development first. For us, it is development first, our

present and future before”

Presentation Two:

This presentation was tagged “Climate Change and ICT, using Media to amplify your action”. The

workshop was facilitated by Mr. Rotimi Olawale – Program Manager. Digital Peers International.

Campaigning is all about communicating. You can be very well organized and have everything detail

taken care of, but if you don’t spread your story far and wide, people won’t know it happened.

The goal is to amplify your event so that it gets the attention of more people, both to build for your

event to extend its impact after you are done. Whether you are facebooking, calling reporters or

sitting down with bloggers, every media hit you get will mean your event by more people – so start

spreading the world.

He highlighted on some points that really help the participant on how to go about amplifying their

voice through media:

Why should we engage with the media?

Define your goals, know your audience, and map out your story.

Remember your goals.

Define your audience.

Develop a message

Develop your story

He also introduces the participant on how to use and offline media to promote their events such as:

Newspaper

Radio

T.V

Mentioned that the offline media are an example of a traditional media, and it’s the stuff that gets

read and watched by your elected officials and reaches the most people. All of these mediums offer

you an opportunity to reach a wider audience when promoting your event, and to amplify the

impact of your event after the fact.

Presentation Three:

This presentation was tagged “The Power of One”. The workshop was facilitated by Miss. Victoria

Amaechina – Human Resource Expert/Developmental Consultant.

The Power of One basically teaches us how to work in a team. It also helps a team to find and use

their personal power. Member sets their own goals, work to achieve them, and enjoy the result.

She also mentioned that the power of one gives youths the power to fulfill their dreams by creating

self-directed projects that focus on:

A better you – Improve a personal traits

Family ties – Get along better with family members

Working on working - Explore work options, prepare for a career, or

sharpen skills useful in business.

Take the Lead – Develop Leadership Qualities

Speak Out your Activities – Tell other about your activities. The challenges and the Success

stories.

DAY TWO

Presentation Four:

This presentation was tagged “Volunteering for Millennium Development Goals [MDGs]”. The

workshop was facilitated by Miss. Urestse Emamapko. Snr. Program Manager, Life Impact

Foundation [LIFI]

The presentation was focused on the activities of the Life Impact Foundation International [LIFI]

and how Nigerian Youths can benefit from it as well as contribute to the achievement of the MDGs

through Youth Volunteerism. Participants also learnt about relevant bodies working on Volunteerism

in Nigeria.

She also highlighted the reason why volunteerism is very important for Nigerian Youths.

Volunteerism is what gives you your job.

Presentation Four:

This presentation was tagged “Tell Your Story”. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Charles

Omofomwan. Programme Director, Noble Mission for change Initiative. & Mr. Chibueze Eminike

– Project Manager (Heinrich Böll Stiftung)

This session is an exercise about working in a new team and sharing your success stories from your

past experiences. It was grouped three forms where we have self, us and now.

Self: They shared their experiences and values that made them take a leadership on building a more

sustainable future.

Us: They also share more on the reason for believing in the possibility of the people they will be

speaking to.

Now: They do talked more on why it’s urgent to deal with issues around MDGs and sustainable

development? Their strategy to overcome challenges? What is the first step that each person can

take to be part of their solutions?

Two of them were able to also share part of their organization stories, where the participants were

also come together in a group to share their stories among each other’s and this really help so many

organization know more about each other.

Presentation Four:

This presentation was tagged “MobilizeU Campaign (Earth day)”. The workshop was facilitated by

Mr. Olumide Idowu. Youth Engagement Officer, Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition [NYCC]

As MobilizeU is part of the Earth day network’s global effort to

mobilize for the Earth. The Earth Day University campaign was

also introduced by the Regional Coordinator for Nigeria (Olumide

Idowu) at the workshop. It’s an international movement of

concerned and active college student competing and uniting

around environmental action in support of a sustainable future.

He was able to introduce the campaign to individual also in a way

they will also contribute to the sustainable growth of our

communities.

For more information contact: olumide.aiesec@gmail.com or

mobilizU@earthday.org

CLOSING CEREMONY:

The workshop was finally closed with the Country Director of Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation

(Christian K). She was excited seeing young people coming together and doing something to make

the environment a better place for all. She also mentioned that Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation

will be opened to partnership anytime we want them to come in.

Closing Prayer: was said by Omolola Adeyemi while Olumide Idowu led the National

Anthem.

Some Pictures from the workshop: