CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT AND REPORTING ON BISHOP KODJI COMMUNITY ( A perspective report on the localized plights of a community impacted by climate change in the suburb of Lagos State, Nigeria)



The Policy Advocacy Project Partnership on Climate Change (PAPPCC), a network of Civil Society Organization and professionals concerned about the threat of Climate Change to Lagos recently organized a two Day Sensitization workshop for Media Professionals with two cardinal objectives of; demystifying the concept of climate change and advocate for a robust policy framework on Climate Change in the State
The workshop for journalists and media practitioners was held in partnership with DFID – State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) with the theme, ‘Strengthening Citizens Voice and Climate Change: The Role of the Media’.
According to the organizers, the workshop was aimed at building the capacity of Media Professionals and prevailing issues on Climate Change in Lagos State.
The Day 1 of the workshop witnessed training sessions by Speakers in the field of Climate Change Advocacy and Intervention.
Speaking at the workshop was Barr. Titi Akosa, Executive Director, 21st Centre for Century Issues. She implored Media practitioners to be vaster while reporting Climate related issues.
‘Reporting should be human centers. Human faces should be on reports as regards Climate Change. Taking cognizance of people that are socially vulnerable, people with disabilities and how it affects these  set of people differently for the differences to make a difference while reporting’, Akosa noted.
The Second Speaker was Dr. Ayo Tella, Producer, and ‘Our Environment’ Film with focus on what the Media should look out for when it comes to delivering Climate Change Reports.
According to Tella, ‘for effective communication to enable the citizens know about Climate Change, media practitioners need to share in the idea of the citizens as well as their opinions. When communicating with the masses, media practitioners must ensure barriers of noise, language, perception, jargons are avoided’.
Rounding off the workshop for the day was a presentation delivered by Francis Anyeagbu giving insights on how to utilize Social Media Networks to report Climate Change Issues as well as other advocacy services to Humanity with discussion focusing on ‘Citizen Voice Advocacy: The Place of Social Media’.
‘The Power that New Media has created ensured that different issues are generate and solutions are propounded and implemented as prompt as possible’, Francis said.
The Day 2 of the workshop was a field task where Media Practitioners cutting across; Broadcast, Print as well as Online Media Networks took to Bishop Kodji Community, a community under AmuwoOdofin Local Government Area (LGA harboring about 25,000 – 30000 residents.
The Island can be accessed from CMS with the aid of a speedboat in less than 30 minutes.
Bishop Kodji Island is made up of seven communities amongst which are Sabo Kodji, GonureKodji, Akopanawa, Iredu, AgalaAyedun. The major occupation of residents on this Island is fishing.
Other Communities under this LGA include; SagboKodji, WhlakKodji, Akoponawa and Agbonjido Communities.
The aim of the field task was to identify Social issues the community was facing and that which can be categorized under; Livelihood, Environment, Health, Water and Energy. Also the visit to the community would also be used as a point of reference for other communities under the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area (LGA).
To witness the visit as well as have chat with Press Men on the field were representative of the communities as well as their Head of the host community, Chief Sewanu Felix.
According to Chief Sewanu while addressing pressmen, he noted that the community is presently faced with a lot of challenges, to mention a few, he places these challenges under; Educational Challenges, Electricity and Water.
It was also disclosed during the Press briefing by the Heads of Community that the only public Nursery and Primary School in Bishop Kodji community, Bishop Kodji Nursery and Primary School needs total rehabilitation as the building is totally dilapidated. Students don’t get to have access to a conducive environment for reading and proper assimilation.
The School building lacked doors, Sufficient Chairs and windows. Tutors also complained about Security Level of the School which is loosed due to all these missing factors and lack of Government Assistance.

A visit to the School environment also proved that Students are not in the best state of reading as the environment looked unsafe and scanty.
Speaking with Instructors in the School, it was disclosed that sometimes when they get to class to start School Activities, they find dead Pigs in the classroom, thus, Instructors have to first clear the pigs and clean up the classroom in their little way before commencing classes with the students.
The School building lacked doors, Sufficient Chairs and windows. Tutors also complained about Security Level of the School which is loosed due to all these missing factors and lack of Government Assistance.
Also in the terms of water, Chief Sewanu noted that the people of the community do not have access to portable water. They tend to sail their canoes away from the community to get water that can be bought and drank by the residents.
A visit into the community also proved that things are way behind when it comes to development and livelihood.
Found in the community is a non-functioning state-sponsored solar project at the community which was installed years back. The solar project was meant to power water pumps and fish driers in the tiny fishing and boat-carving community that would help the water system of the community, but, reverse is the case now as it is not functioning.
Also Residents are unstable health wise due to the community gradually taking over by dirt and garbage from the Sea.
The Deputy Baale, Bishop Kodji Community, Chief Victor, in the same vein implored the government to come to their aid and help the present state of living of the community as well as neighbor communities under the LGA.
 

Blog Credit: Olumide Idowu
Team Lead,Climate Wednesday,Nigeria
Olumide.aiesec@gmail.com

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