Foundation Establishes Environment Club in Akwa Ibom Community
By Ekemini Simon
Peace Point Development Foundation, a Civil Society Organisation working to promote ecological justice in Nigeria has established an Environmental Club in oil-rich ONNA local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
The organisation says it is establishing the club to help the community protect their environmental rights and also contribute to climate justice.
The inauguration of the club which took place on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at Ikot Ebidang Community in ONNA witnessed community leaders, women, youth and persons with disabilities volunteer to serve as members of the environmental club so as not only to monitor their environment but serve at the forefront to push for their environmental rights especially against the pollution from oil extraction.
It could be recalled that Ikot Ebidang Community had recently dragged Sterling Oil operating within the OML 13 asset to court over alleged reckless venting of gas during the company’s oil exploratory activities in the area.
Inaugurating the club, the Chief Environmental Scientist of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA, Akwa Ibom office, Mr. Akan Odungide charged members of the club to be good environmental ambassadors of the community by being vigilant over happenings in their environment and also acting courageously in line with relevant laws when their environmental rights are abused.
Earlier, while briefing the club members over the expectations from them, the Coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, Comrade Umo Isua-Ikoh noted that the club aims to raise awareness about environmental issues, promote conservation practices, and empower community members to become environmental monitors.
Isua-Ikoh called on members of the club to identify a community need, engage with local leaders and State actors, develop a plan, recruit members, conduct training, and implement sustainable environmental projects that will protect their rights.
Meanwhile, with the inauguration, Ikot Ebidang Community joins other eight communities and 18 schools where the environment club has been established by PPDF.
The communities where PPDF has established environmental club includes Inua Eyet Ikot, Okoroutip, Iwokpom and Opolom in Ibeno, Opukalama and Uta Ewa Communities in Ikot Abasi, Ikot Udom in Ibiono Ibom, and Nwanaiba in Uruan.