On the 19th of July, Lagos, Nigeria, played host to representatives of The EarthShot Prize Africa Tour. Founded by the Prince of Wales, Prince William, The EarthShot Prize is a global environmental prize designed to incentivize change and help repair our planet over the next 10 years.
The EarthShot Prize Africa Tour event which centered on the impact of climate change on the continent highlighted the need for entrepreneurial solutions in areas such as education, agriculture, healthcare, energy, and finance.
The event brought together representatives of The EarthShot Prize: Hannah Jones, CEO, EarthShot Prize; Anna Lovell, Director of Strategic Engagement; Laurie Kerr, Researcher; Barbara Baidoo, Project Manager; and Rosie Fenning, Senior Strategic Engagement Manager, EarthShot Prize, as well as environmental activists including Olumide Idowu, Temilade Salam, and other industry stakeholders.
During the event, attendees watched three climate impact-themed videos produced by the students of the MultiChoice Talent Factory: Revive the Ocean, featuring Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro, Founder & CEO, Mitimeh, and Oyewole Talabi, Founder, Recycle9ja; Racing Against Time, a mini-documentary on the dangers of plastic waste; and 2070, a short film featuring Winifred Obam and Eliana Uffot. It was announced that the videos will air on MultiChoice platforms, DStv and GOtv to increase awareness of the impact of climate change.
The event also hosted a panel discussion centered around tackling Africa’s climate change challenges. The panelists spotlighted possible solutions and how the government can partner with other organizations to tackle the effects of climate change from the grassroots.
The Nigeria leg of the tour ended with a networking event held in Abuja. The event, which took place on the 23rd of July, was attended by EarthShot Prize finalist Olugbenga Olubanjo, inventer of Reeddi Capsules, environmental activists and inventors and other stakeholders and spotlighted the crucial need for sustainability and the dire consequences of neglecting our planet's well-being.
The Earthshot Prize, founded by the Prince of Wales, Prince William, is a global environmental prize designed to incentivize change and help repair our planet over the next ten years. Centered around five Earthshots – Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate – the prize aims to turn the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism by showcasing innovative solutions.