Jibunoh Flags Off 2010 Desert Warrior Contest
ngrclimatereports February 3rd, 2010
Minister of Environment, John Odey flags off the Nigeria-Agadez( Niger Republic) Desert Tour in Abuja, February 2, 2010. Photo: Courtesy Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja.
From Etim Imisim in Abuja
Dr. Newton Jibunoh has flagged off the 2010 edition of his trip across the Sahara Desert which will take three weeks. The veteran traveler and his 50 contestants are pressing on to Agades in Niger Republic before pressing on across the desert to London in a convoy of Suzuki SUVs.
They got the blessings of Environment Minister, Mr. John Odey, yesterday during a ceremony in Abuja to mark the event. Odey commended Jibunoh’s interest in the environment, and said that the 2010 youth expedition is a tool to create awareness and combat the menace of desert encroachment.
Jibunoh led a campaign to plant trees in Kano five years ago, recalled the minister, who said he welcomed partnership with the civil society and the private sector in support of sustainable development. “The mission will complement government efforts in dealing with the problems of land reclamation, animal husbandry, desertification and other issues related to the lives of nomads,” Odey said.
“Why are we doing this,” Jibunoh asked. “We are going to subject the contestants to a test of endurance. Over the years, it has been difficult to get the common man to key into environment issues. It has been difficult to get the common man to key into issues like mitigation and adaptation. We have seen a whole nation like Haiti almost wiped out. This is why we must do everything we can to dealt with these issues.”
Dignitaries at the occasion included chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who said that the route to be undertaken by Jibunoh again was littered by the bones of dead Nigerians who died during attempts to migrate to Europe through North Africa.
The day before, Jibunoh and his 50 contestants were similarly received by the Lagos State Governor in Alausa, Ikeja. They left Lagos Monday afternoon and arrived Abuja around midnight.
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