Birthday and Climate Change

My Youngest Son is 50!

Sam had his 50th birthday last week! It was a remarkable day for him. And for me too! I can’t believe it – Sam is 50!

It was the opening salvo that began his week.

Sam said, when he and Chinaku entered the hotel, “Isn’t it funny another person has a birthday the same day as I do!”

That was when Chinaku and the others welcomed him to his own birthday party! Chinaku helped his friends organize the party. Sam’s kids were with him, planning on going to dinner.

After that for several days he met with friends from long ago – Aig and others. Then he was getting together when other friends – Keno and his pals. Another day he was welcoming people to his house – Cheluchi and her friends were coming over.

But how strange to think that my youngest son turned 50!

Climate Change

The causes of climate change are many. One of these is the polluted water that impacts the health of children especially.

Flooding carries water toward increased precipitation with large rainstorms. When untreated, the water holds the untreated pollutants which can enter the waterways.

Over 46 million people in Nigeria still practice open defecation!

Ajegunle is a  community highly susceptible to flooding in Lagos State. It is one of the largest suburbs around Lagos.

It’s on the way to Ojo, where I taught for 2 years in 1962-64. I used to drive through Ajegunle on the way to Ojo and later to the town nearer Ajegunle.

In 2019 children in Ajegunle suffered from diarrheal outbreaks. Also in the same period malaria and typhoid fever were the direct result of stagnant and polluted drinking water.

The Need to Protect Water

Nigeria has a major need for protection against climate change. This is what people are saying now:

• As a nation we must protect water by reducing and mitigating the impact of climate change. Water needs to be protected as it travels around the world so that it maintains its quality and distribution. If we do not act now, the impact on our communities will be disastrous.
• We cannot make ‘new’ water, we need to protect the water that we already have so that man and the ecosystem can thrive. Now is the time to proffer solutions that will address the challenges of climate change before it is too late.

It’s not too late, but almost!

Ajegunle and other communities like it must find a way to stop climate change.