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By Paul Williams
Environmental activists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria have called on policymakers and multinational companies to shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy.
This call was made during a one-day campaign in Port Harcourt, organized by non-governmental organization Quest for Growth and Development Foundation, to raise awareness on environmental degradation caused by oil exploration, and the urgent need for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources across Africa.
The activists were joined by community members and students of Oroworukwo Community School, Port Harcourt, who defied the early morning rain on Friday September 19, 2025 to “draw the line (#DrawTheLine) and demand for system change, clean and affordable energy, energy justice and community-owned renewable energy.”
Coordinator of Quest for Growth and Development Foundation, Smith Nwokocha, said the initiative was focused on promoting equality in the energy system, emphasizing the need to move away from fossil fuels to renewable options, such as solar power that would not only reduce environmental harm, but also allow local communities to own sustainable energy systems.
“Today’s theme is called ‘Draw The Line,’ Draw the line is part of a global day of action. it’s happening all over the world in different nations. We’re drawing the line that the policy makers, multinationals should move away from fossil fuel to renewable energy, and also that the systems should change
“We have dwelt so much on these multinationals and we see less impact because they use fossil fuel to power their equipment. But now, we are asking them to move towards renewable energy.
“Also, we know that community members can afford to own the system, once they come together. So we are asking committee members to also move towards renewable energy,” he said.
Nwokocha explained that the sensitization was held at the Oroworukwo Community secondary school in a bid to engage young minds, who can influence their parents and educate future generations on the benefits of renewable energy.
“We want the campaign to start from the younger ones. These policymakers, who are older, have heard so much of all this call for environmental justice, and have done less or nothing about it.
“But when we engage a community school like this, where you have younger people, they will understand the need for end to fossil fuel, and they can take action within their space.
“They can even engage their parents, who are policymakers, government officials and staff of multinationals. Once the children get home and talk to the parents, they will see reason why they need to shift to solar renewable energy, which is clean,” Nwokocha said.
Our reporter said that the event formed part of the Global Day of Action with the theme, Rise Up, Draw the Line, which aligns with environmental advocacy in Nigeria and other African countries calling for justice and environmental protection.
