Environmental Justice: HOMEF Tasks Ibeno Oil Community on Community Responsibility
By Ekemini Simon
To achieve environmental justice against the hazards of oil pollution, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called on the people of Okoroutip community in oil-rich Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom State to have a sense of community responsibility in all their endeavours.
The call was made to farmers of the area at Okoroutip community hall during HOMEF’s Cycle of Reflection meeting held on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.
The Project Lead of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Stephen Oduware noted that since extractivism has brought about much ecological harm to Okoroutip community, putting a strain on and often leading to total loss of major livelihood sources such as farming, fishing and hunting, it was time the community inculcate and promote a sense of community responsibility towards addressing their concerns.
He noted that several environmental laws, including the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, have not succeeded in securing community people’s rights to their resources, including land, and to their livelihood.
Oduware said it was time communities find strength from within to protect their land and livelihood, and together call on the government and concerned stakeholders to take action that will bring environmental justice to them.
The Resource Person, and Coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, Comrade Umo Isua-ikoh noted that community responsibility requires community members to have a shared vision for their community and the vision becomes what drives each community member to strive to meet up their obligations towards the community.
He noted that with an understanding of the set vision for the community and in order to discharge their duties effectively, community members invest time and other resources.
Isua-ikoh mentioned some of the community responsibility to include protecting the community and totality of its environment from harmful and polluting activities, such as extractivism, by resisting such activities and those who perpetuate such activities.
Others highlighted are “managing and preserving community resources for present and future generations. lending a voice to the oppressed in the community or those impacted by harmful activities like extractivism or climate and other disasters such as flooding in the community even when you are not directly affected.
“Using your knowledge and skills to assist the community in achieving shared goals and during crises. Respecting, upholding, promoting, and preserving the culture of the community and its cultural institutions.
“Participating in community activities and decision making. volunteering in community works. Engaging in personal development so as to contribute meaningfully to community development.”
The Resource Person said the importance of community responsibility is that it is fundamental in building strong communities.
He stated that community responsibility is essential for sustainable development of the different sectors of a community.
Isua-ikoh pointed out that devotion to community responsibility strengthens communities’ resistance to undesirable activities and allows community members to have more control over what is accepted or not accepted in the name of development.
He added “Community responsibility is a driver for positive change in any community as community members work toward achieving common goals set for the community. Community responsibility leads to learning, transfer, exchange and development of skills in the community.
“The effective performance of responsibility towards community, builds respect and trust among community members, and from neighbouring communities.
“Community responsibility is crucial in fostering empathy among community members. Community responsibility promotes togetherness among community members.
“By carrying out different responsibilities, community people learn different values including being self-sufficient, kindness, selflessness,
generosity, consistency. Community responsibility provides a support network that can help community members manage difficult situations including crises.
” This is because through the performance of different responsibilities by different community members, expertise is built in different areas and people with different capacities are noted and become easily identifiable. Community responsibility makes communities more resilient in times of trouble.
On his part, Jacob Iniodu, a Resource Person said it is important to pay attention to the gender dimensions of community solidarity, integration and responsibility. He insisted that the different genders have different but complementary responsibilities.
Iniodu added “Just like women have been found to participate only minimally in decision making in many communities, their responsibilities are often overlooked. But women’s responsibility in the community holds as much significance as that of their male counterpart for the sustenance and development of the community.”
On her part, Elsie Ifon charged everyone to have a sense of community responsibility else no one will actually do the work as everyone will think the other person will do the work.