To promote sustainable energy and environment in Nigeria, young lawyers are set to participate in laws and policies that drive the sector.
Speaking on the development in Warri, Delta State, Tuesday, Princess Yoma Eshemitan (Esq), Team Lead for the Environmental Sustainability working group, a sub committee under the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Forum (NBA-YLF), Energy and Sustainability Committee, stated.
She emphasized the role of youths in the quest to achieve sustainable energy and clean environment in Nigeria, describing them as critical stakeholders.
Eshemitan who is Legal Adviser of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Youthwing, and an environmental activist, pointed out that youths are the most people impacted by problems that affect the environment.
“This committee is a pretty intense one as we’re charged with the responsibility of being the voice of Nigerian young lawyers in the advocacy for the sustainability of the environment, sustainability of youth led businesses, sustainability of the Energy sector and human capital development.
“The youths are the present and future and every impact within the ecosystem and crucially, the energy sector most affects us.
“So it is our goal to speak up on our position and be recognized in decision making and policy within the sector
She added that their assignment is hinged on efforts of the NBA-YLF to “drive impactful initiatives for the growth and development of young lawyers across Nigeria.”
It would be noted that the 34-member Energy and Sustainability Committee chaired by Toma Fortune, is among 11 others composed by the governing council of the NBA-YLF to address critical areas affecting young lawyers and “provide platforms for active participation, innovative solutions, and professional growth.”
She added that as representatives of young Nigerian lawyers within the energy space worldwide, the group is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring “that our voices are heard and we drive transformative change within the sector. We must speak to sustain our environment, as young lawyers.
“We are most affected by changes in the environment than the elderlies because we are the now and tomorrow. We are that gap to sustain the future of our habitat, of our participation in the sector, of sustainable capacity building among the lawyers and youths generally, within the sector.
“It’s a very crucial working group within the Energy committee as it cuts across all other working groups such as mining, oil and gas etc.
“Policies drive the economy and as representatives of the young lawyers of Nigeria, we are to be heard in matters concerning laws and policies as it affects youths and lawyers within this sector in Nigeria,” Eshemitan stressed.
