WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY – BEAT PLASTIC POLLUTION
FOTE, UNDP & Zenith Bank Empower Women
‘Solar Paint’ Prototype Introduced to Help Homes Generate Clean Energy
Importance of Ventilation in Our Everyday Lives
Incredible Solar and Water Powered Trash Cleaner
The Issue of Waste Management
Horticulture and The Environment
WONDERBAG – A RECIPE FOR CHANGE
Friends Of The Environment Nigeria
Established in 1993 under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a non-governmental organization (NGO).F
OTE was established in 1993 under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a non-governmental organization (NGO). FOTE’s primary goal as an NGO, is to initiate and undertake programmes and activities that address the needs of identified groups that impact on the environment.
One of FOTE’s primary strategies in attaining its goal is the use of awareness campaigns to enlighten and educate people about the many environmental concerns and the impact each concern has on the larger society.
To impact meaningfully and positively on the environment, FOTE recognises the significant role played by technology. The use of technology in many processes and endeavours increases efficiency, and therefore promotes sustainability.
Our Objectives
Empower
To alleviate poverty and engender equality in Nigeria through economic empowerment programmes and projects for women and youth which form part of the MDGs.
Replenish
To mobilize Nigerian communities for environmental protection activities such tree planting, as a replacement mechanism to control deforestation and flooding
Enlighten
Ensure that people, especially the young are educated on, and where possible, exposed to, modern technology and ICT use in the protection of the environment at large.
Research
All of our research programmes are conducted with reputable local and international organisations including FIIRO, Energy Commission of Nigeria, the United Nations (UN) agencies, and others.
Demonstrate
To carry out pilot demonstration projects on feasible alternative technologies. Also, to introduce to Nigeria rural and peri-urban communities renewable and alternative energy sources such as solar energy devices, improved woodstoves, energy-efficient stoves (EES), biogas technology etc.
Innovate
To undertake knowledge management and networking for innovative development activities
for enquiries, suggestions, support, or a quick shout out
Contact usProjects
- Workshop For NGOs on awareness generation dissemination of information and community participation, Cotonou – 1997
- Rural Women Technician Training (RWTC) in collaboration with GRATIS and University Of Science and technology, Kumasi, Ghana; funded by ENERGIA – 2000
- Workshop on ‘Building Capacity to Facilitate CDM Projects: Oil and Gas Manufacturing Sectors in Collaboration with UNIDO, Abuja’ – 2001
- Design, Construction, and Supervision of 10cm biogas plant in Enugu; funded by UNIFEM – 2003
- Research on ‘Establishing Poor livelihood Policy Making: Understanding the role of energy services’ in collaboration with ITG, Netherlands, commissioned by DFID – 2004
- Consultant to ENERGIA on ‘Mainstreaming Gender and Energy in the United Nations Commission On Sustainable Development (CSD 14 and 15)’ – 2006
- Gender audit of the Nigerian Energy policy, research project sponsored by CIDA – 2008
- Research Project on Community Action to reduce the pollution load of POPs and other toxic influence into the Lagos lagoon – 2012
- Donation of ICT centre to Victoria Island Secondary School, Lagos by Huawei Technologies Company Limited initiated by NYSC – 2016
- Donation of an E-library to Wahab Folawiyo Junior High School by Huawei Technologies company Limited in partnership with the Lagos State Government – 2016.
- Donation of First Aid Kit & Umbi cut Kit Huawei to the Lagos State Ministry of Health – 2016
Gallery
View photos and Videos from some of our Projectsfor enquiries, suggestions, support, or a quick shout out
Contact us
Activities
Our focus areasThe renewable energy projects undertaken by FOTE address the major issues raised in the United Nations’ Convention on Climate Change. This is because renewable energy technologies do not cause the emission of green house gases such as CO2 and can also lead to a reduction of the burning of firewood. To this end.
• Our organisation has identified a very useful, renewable and alternative energy source in biogas a flammable gas produced by the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste materials such as human and animal wastes, etc. FOTE has constructed 2 biogas plants for the Ojokoro (Ikeja) Ifelodun Cooperative Agricultural Multi-purpose Society Limited in Lagos. These plants feed on the pig waste and the gas generated is used in the abattoir.
• Since 1995, working in tandem with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), FOTE has introduced the improved wood and saw dust stoves to some rural communities in Lagos State. In 1996, Ajidoh, Badagry was selected for the pilot production of stoves designed to conserve wood and increase energy efficiency. The stoves were then distributed free of charge to some villagers, who used them for a period of 6 months. This was monitored and the experiences documented via a survey.
• FOTE was the Nigeria Focal Point for the UNIFEM sub-regional programme, Gender Renewable Energy Systems Development and Applications (GRESDA). As the implementing organization, FOTE has successfully undertaken one of the six pilot projects proposed for the programme. The Gender Renewable Energy Systems Development and Application (GRESDA) is an economic empowerment programme, initiated by UNIFEM to support women in increasing the efficiency of their economic activities using renewable energy sources and systems.
The first Pilot Demonstration Unit (PDU) was the Eziafakaego Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (EFMCS) in Enugu, This involved the construction of the factory building, procurement and installation of machinery. The second phase of the project involved the construction and installation of a biogas digester.
The project aimed at
– Processing cassava into gari and other products
– Adding value to cassava by producing exportable products
– Using renewable energy in gari production
– Improving food-processing methods by provision of equipment to increase outputs.
The GRESDA Project put in place several training programmes to ensure sustainability of the project, and in realization of the project, FOTE partnered with the state and local government agencies. Implementation of the second PDU is in progress.
LPG Perception and Consumption
A survey was carried out in Badagry LGA and Ojokoro LCDA in Lagos State with funding from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP).
National Energy Policy
A Gender Audit was carried out with support from ENERGIA, the international network on gender and sustainable energy.
Economic Profile and Technological Expertise Available to Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs
A baseline study was undertaken on behalf of the United Nations Development Funds for Women (UNIFEM).
Enabling Urban Poor Livelihoods Policy Making: Understanding the role of Energy Services
Collaboration with ENERGIA (Netherlands) to conduct a DFID- Sponsored Project on Gender and Energy in Nigeria
The Assessment of the Lagos Lagoon for POPs sources, types and impacts
This project was sponsored by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN).
Strategic Assessment of the Status of POPs Pesticides Trading in Southwestern Nigeria
Collaboration with two other Nigerian NGOs in a study sponsored by the Pesticide Action Network (UK) under the African Stockpile Program (ASP).
Most of these studies are in the websites of the sponsoring agencies.
• FOTE is currently working on popularizing the use of cleaner, modern fuel in the form of LPG, and create sustainable markets for its consumption and use in households, institutions (e.g. boarding schools) and small businesses in Nigeria for improved living conditions and enhanced forest conservation through reduced fuel wood consumption. We have started with two communities in Lagos State, South west Nigeria with support from GEF-SGP administered by UNDP in Nigeria, and hope to replicate the project across the country, funding being available.
• FOTE conducted training for some mechanics in Lagos State on the proper handling and disposal of Waste oil with particular emphasis on minimization and recycling.
• Under the GRESDA/UNIFEM programme, FOTE organized workshops on Rural Women Technician Corps (RWTC) designed for rural and peri urban women to teach them basic maintenance and repairs of their post harvest machinery. This programme was aimed at reducing the women’s dependence on male technicians while improving their earning capacity and by extension increasing the country’s food security. The workshops also taught the women basic environmental and sanitation issues, Gender sensitization and Book Keeping and Business Management
• FOTE in collaboration with ENERGIA organized several training workshops on “Strengthening Capacity for Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Planning” for Energy Project Planners, under the Turning Information into Empowerment program of ENERGIA otherwise known as the TIE-ENERGIA program.
FOTE in this area of its thrust has organized workshops with the themes:
• Proper Waste Oil Management
• Climate Change and Global Workshop
• Ecosystems Changes and Poverty in Nigeria
• Wetlands Protection in Nigeria
• Sustainable Water Development and Poverty Alleviation
• Adolescent and Environmental Protection
From 2005 till date, FOTE has organized annual workshops in collaboration with the British Council some private sector organizations at the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, our adopted institution for our Y-FOTE programs, to mark the World Environment Day celebrations with the relevant year’s theme. The theme for the 2010 workshop being ‘Many Species: One Planet, One Future’ The workshop was attended by 20 schools.
In 2010, we were able to link Ijanikin with a German secondary school, and they are at present exchanging correspondences and maybe later projects and exchange visits.
– Proper Waste Oil Management
– Climate Change and Global Warming
– Ecosystems Changes and Poverty in Nigeria
– Wetlands Protection in Nigeria
– Sustainable Water Development and Poverty Alleviation
– Enabling Urban Poor Livelihoods Policy making- Understanding the Role of Energy Services
– Stakeholders Reflection on the Nigerian Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Situation
– Kick the Habit: Towards a Low Carbon economy
– Your Planet Needs You: Unite to Combat Climate Change
Support
Funds for the various activities undertaken by FOTE have been sourced from Government Agencies, the Private sector and International Donor Agencies and development partners such as the GEF-SGP, UNIFEM, ENERGIA, World Bank, and DFID.