To examine the state of our environment, particularly that of the Niger Delta, Connected Advocacy had put together an event to discuss the impact of climate change and mitigative actions taken by young persons in the region. The event was tagged Niger Delta Climate Change Exhibition (NDCCE) 2021.
NDCCE 2021 is geared towards amplifying the works on climate action and the struggles of climate actors who care about environmental justice in the Niger Delta through art paintings. The Exhibition focused on the activities of young climate actors exhibiting their works, telling stories of the impact of our changing climate on the people of the Niger Delta.
Below are some of these artworks:
- Swimming Cars, Egor, Edo State
Heavy rainfall and drainage blocked by plastic lead to flooding in major roads of Benin City. One of such occurred in July 2018, leading to the death of a six-year-old child. Read more!
- Dark Snow, Rumuokoro, Rivers State
Air pollution has become so rampant in Port Harcourt due to the activities of gas flaring and illegal refinery activities, causing black soots, creating dark fog-like clouds during the day and posing great health risks. Read more!
- Our Fishes Are Gone, Otor-Udu, Delta State
Fishermen have abandoned their trade due to oil spillage recorded as a result of bunkering activities. The livelihood of many indigenes living in communities along Okpare River has been greatly affected by this. Read more!
- Hot Skies, Alesa-Eleme, Rivers State
In Rivers State, flaring has been going on for years. Communities like Eleme have been exposed to air pollutants that have resulted in various ailments. These flares cause extreme heat, noise and glare, depriving communities of dark and quiet nights. Read more!
- The Creeks, Apoi Creek, Bayelsa State
Oil floats on the delta’s waterways, killing and polluting the region’s plants and animals. Muddy fishing towns line the creek banks of communities like Apoi, sticky with oil that has washed ashore. Children are affected; dying of ailments and are deprived of a safe environment. Read more!
- Water Bed, Epie, Bayelsa State
Heavy rains and rising water levels have caused flooding in various villages across Bayelsa State, displacing many residents. Locals have decided to enter their homes with floating beds using canoes. Read more!
- Forest Thieves, Ekuri, Cross Rivers State
In Cross Rivers which is home to Nigeria’s last rainforest, there is an increasing amount of deforestation mainly caused by activities of humans through illegal logging and land grabbing by the government. Read more!
- Brick by Brick, Iwogban, Edo State
Erosion caused by blocked waterways and indiscriminate dumping of refuse has resulted in gullies in Benin City, submerging buildings and making house owners homeless. The building blocks of these houses keep falling after heavy rainfalls bit by bit. Read more!
- When The Storm Comes, Ilaje, Ondo
Shoreline communities now experience ocean surge more often; this is caused by the strong wind pushing water onshore. The aftermath of one of such water incursions in Ayetoro community had destroyed homes
and farmlands. Read more!
- Rivers of Crude, Benikrukru, Delta State
Communities in Bayelsa and across the Niger Delta experience oil spillage that sees about 40 million litres of oil polluting rivers and lands. Benikrukru, a host community of Chevron Abiteye Flowstation’s is one of the communities affected. Read more!
- What Will The Tides Bring? Bonny, Rivers State
Walking by the beach, one is curious about what new and beautiful thing one would find; seashells, jelly or starfishes. Now, all that wash up on shore are plastics—marine litter is increasing and hurting aqua life and
having an adverse effect on coastal communities. Read more!
- The Hopeless Wait For a Better Livelihood, THE NIGER DELTA
A lot of communities have been affected by climate change caused mainly by activities by oil firms. Families have lost their means of livelihood and now live on promises by the government for aids—that are not forthcoming.
- Black Waters, Ekole, Bayelsa State
Again and again, locals wake up to see oil spills that completely cover their rivers. Otuokpoti and Agbura communities in Bayelsa experience oil spills that are as thick as 5cm destroying aquatic life, and contaminating their only source of water. Read more!
- Baked Soil, Akoko, Ondo State
Farmers in Ondo state now face several challenges caused by climate change; they experience reduced farm yields as a result of excessive heat and drought. The ‘sunshine state’ is becoming too hot and food scarcity looming. Read more!
- Floating Fishes, Akwa Ibom State
Residents in states along the Atlantic coast, such as Awka Ibom, have observed large croaker fish mortality, prompting fears of growing toxicity in territorial waters. All fingers point to oil firms such as Agip and Shell for releasing harmful substances into the waters. Read more!
Support this project
These artworks were put together by young climate actors and artists from across Niger Delta. Their effort is geared towards telling the stories of how climate change affect their communities and raising funds from the sales of these pieces to launch the School of Environmental Economy and Democracy (SEED).
SEED is a programme by Connected Advocacy to educate and empower young climate actors across Nigeria, getting them trained with relevant skills to venture into green jobs and secure a means for sustaining their livelihood.
To know more and support the efforts of these young climate actors, contact our team lead, Prince Israel Orekha via email: israel@connectedadvocacy.org.ng or cacyd4sdg@gmail.com; send a message on WhatsApp: +234 806 487 1447
Make a donation to support the launch of the SEED programme:
Bank Name: Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development Initiative
Bank Account Number: 0620404408 (Dollar Account)
Bank: WEMA Bank Nigeria
SWIFT: WEMANGLAXXX