Ahead of St. John Bosco Feast Day, Nigerian Catholic Youths Urged to Embrace Environmental Stewardship

“They have to see this earth as a place for each and every one of us,” the SDB member said.

Fr. Njoku highlighted recycling as a practical pathway to environmental sustainability and youth empowerment. 

“All these things that we see on the streets, in the gutters and all that, when they are picked, they can be recycled, and that would be a way of promoting a better environment and wealth creation for the young people,” he noted.

In a separate interview during the same event, the Youth Chaplain of Garki Deanery of Abuja Archdiocese, Fr. Oseromore Okoh, explained that the initiative was deeply rooted in Catholic social teaching and spirituality.

“Today we had a walk of prayer and also a work of service, honoring the legacy of St. John Bosco, the father and teacher of the young,” Fr. Okoh said. 

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He added, “We were able to keep our environment clean, calling to mind what Pope Francis calls environmental conversion and environmental stewardship.”

Beyond cleaning the streets, Fr. Okoh said the exercise carried a spiritual message. 

“As we clean outside, we are also invited to clean our hearts, our insides, our consciences, and to allow space for God,” he said.

The Catholic Priest linked the activity to the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi, the Church’s patron saint of ecology.  “His life reminds us that the sun is our brother, the moon is our sister, and we should care for our environment. We should care for one another,” Fr. Okoh said.

Emphasizing the central role of young people, the youth chaplain described them as “key protagonists” in environmental advocacy. 

“They are not only the future of society, but they are also the future of the Church. They are also the custodians of our environment,” he said, noting that youths possess the energy and technological tools needed to drive environmental awareness and advocacy.

Also speaking to ACI Africa, the coordinator of the one-day walk, Ms. Damaris Uja, said the outreach was intended to both clean the environment and sensitize residents. 

“As we walk along the streets, we pick up the dirt that we see and also enlighten people about how they can keep their environment clean,” she said.

Ms. Uja linked worsening weather conditions in Abuja to environmental neglect and deforestation. 

“We’re experiencing hot, hazy weather in Abuja, which was not like this in the past,” she said, blaming the trend on indiscriminate tree cutting without replacement.

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She called on youths in Nigeria to plant more trees than they cut. 

“When you cut, you have to plant more because it will take time for it to grow,” she said.

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Catholic journalist with passion for Church communication and media apostolate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Benue State University, Makurdi in Benue State Nigeria. He has a background in print, electronic and multi-media production.