The Voice of Nigeria (VON), in collaboration with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) is ready to enlighten citizens on the Nigerian Sustainable Cooling Project to reduce energy consumption by air conditioners.
VON Director-General, Jibrin Baba-Ndace, revealed this when he received the National Coordinator of the Project, Mr Samaila Zaku, on a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abuja.
Ndace said that climate change was causing serious environmental challenges with the heat remaining intense even when the air conditioners are put on.
He added that the kind of turbulence during flights as a result of global warming was so scary that it could discourage people from travelling by air.
“I am happy that ECN has seen us as a partner to achieve the Nigerian Sustainable Cooling Project. VON broadcast in eight languages – four local and four foreign.
“We broadcast in Hausa, Igbo, Youruba and Fulfulde. We also broadcast in English, French, Arabic and Swahili.
“We are consistent in telling the Nigerian stories in a positive and believable manner.
“What you are doing now is in line with global best practice, especially now that you are partnering with international organisations.
“if you don’t shape the narrative, funding may not come. This visit will count as an advocacy.
“I am happy that you have come home, we are available to carry all your stories, to tell it and retell it. Please tell your Director-General that we have accepted and are ready to partner with you.
“We will allow you to come to our dedicated programmes for interviews and to speak to the world in about eight languages concerning the project. Our platform is the best in Africa,” Ndace said.
The VON boss said the agency would not be apologetic in telling the true narrative of Nigeria and look forward to working with the commission.
Zaku said human activities were responsible for climate change, adding that the commission looked at the area of cooling which had to do with air conditioners.
He said in cooling, some refrigerants emitted substances that affected the ozone layers, thus leading to global warming.
“There is need to encourage effective cooling system that will not affect the ozone layers.
“We want to partner with VON to help in enlightening the citizens about the Cooling Project.
“If we use effective energy products, it would reduce the emission by those old types of air conditioners because in powering them, there are consequences – they consume energy and emit dangerous substances.
“We want the public to know about these issues, because when they know and start using them, it would help our environment and climate,” Zaku said.
Similarly, the Communication Expert of CEN, Ms Nkechi Isaac, said the crux of the project was to reduce energy consumption of air conditioners, especially the old model type.
“That is what we want to help Nigeria achieve in relation to climate. We are trying to promote effective use of energy when we use air conditioners.
“It also saves money, because when you consume less energy, you spend less, that is why we come to partner with you and to help propagate the project,” Isaac said. (NAN)