Tolu is a lawyer based in Lagos, Nigeria. In this video, he shares insights into his work as a legal professional and SDG advocate, focusing on sensitizing local communities and influencing policies to prevent waterborne diseases. He also mentioned cultural practices that promotes consevration of water in the Yoruba culture.
Story arranged and filmed by the Next Generation Youth Council.
Transcripts
View this video on YouTube for the full transcript and translations.
View on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSdmDulMUAY
English
Hi there, my name is Tolulope Ayantayo. I’m a lawyer and I’m an SDG advocate here in Lagos State. Here in Lagos State, we have had worsening air quality which is caused by traffic congestion and also industrial emissions. Also, we’ve had issues with flooding which is caused by poor drainage system here. The result of the poor drainage system here is that we now have more waterborne diseases being passed around, like cholera and the effect of the worsening in air quality here is that we have people who have more respiratory issues here in Lagos State. As a lawyer and as an SDG advocate,
I try to sensitize the people around me on the needs to have like proper drainage systems. Here in the society and also as my work, my work also involves raising, raising the government to have right policies for climate change and climate action here in Lagos State. What we experience in Lagos is what we also experience globally. We all have issues with deforest, deforestation, and also with industrial emissions from the big, with the big companies and we’re hoping that we know that this actually affects climate, this actually affects climate change in the world at large. In the Yoruba community, we have things that we regard to our sacred, for example, certain trees and also some rivers. For example, we have the Osun-Osogbo Festival where people are thought on the need to preserve the, the river, the, the water and this actually also affects, you know, climate change in the real sense. Also, elderly people teach younger ones on the need to avoid cutting down trees. There are also spiritual beliefs as regards certain trees that should not be cut down. This also reduces the effect of this, also reduces certain trees for c and a little bit reduces deforestation to an extent here in Lagos State and yeah in Nigeria at large. My message to the world is that a journey for or fighting for climate change here in Nigeria is a journey for all and I implore everyone to put their hands together and let’s achieve this together. Thank you.