Mr. Ikegwuonu, a rural natural resources management expert

The Energy Globe World Award 2011 ceremony of Friday 25 November, 2011 in Wels, Upper Austria Province, brought into limelight outstanding projects submitted by nations for recognition. The Award ceremony featured all the projects that were nominated as semi-finalists in this world?s most prominent and prestigious environmental award. (Photos).

Nigerias project Smallholder Farmers Rural Radio Project submitted by Nnaemeka Chidiebere Ikegwuonu was shortlisted among the 20 finalist, and contested in the final stage for the Energy Globe Award in the category Earth with other contestants from Russia and United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Nnaemeka Chidiebere Ikegwuonu, a graduate of History from the Imo State University, Owerri won the Energy Globe Award for being one of the best Eco-Pioneer Projects with his Smallholder Farmers Rural Radio Project which he initiated in 2007. Presenting his project during the Gala Night, Mr Ikegwuonu revealed that with this project, small farmers in Nigeria were able to defend themselves against destruction, mismanagement of natural resources, hunger and poverty, among other advantages. According to him, using this project which emphasizes the daily broadcast of educative programs in local languages, farmers were learning new farming methods and were actually applying the new found knowledge daily and achieving higher production.

Mr. Ikegwuonu, now a rural natural resources management expert, further revealed at the Globe Award ceremony that his project through radio and field educational programs promoted sustainable agricultural and environmental management by building the capacity of small farmers to access high quality seeds, manage environmental resources, secure land, manage soil nutrients, maintain links to markets, access low cost water technologies and rear livestock.

Winners of the Energy Globe Award were Russia, in the category Earth, Canada in category Fire and Nicaragua in category Water. Zambia won the Youth trophy while Sweden and Switzerland jointly won the Category Air trophy.

A total of 105 countries submitted 974 projects and initiatives on the topic of energy efficiency and resource conservation for participation in the Energy Globe World Award 2011, out of which 100 participating nations, including Nigeria were invited to Wels, Austria for the final ceremony attended by prominent invitees from all over the world.

Representing Nigeria was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nigeria in Austria, Ambassador Maria Oyenyinka Laose, accompanied by officers of the Mission Messers. Olanrewaju, Kpasaba and Maigari.

Other prominent guests at the ceremony included Professor, Edward Ayesu from Ghana, an economic expert and former head of the World Bank Inspection Panel, Ms Leanne Liddles from Australia, an Attorney for the rights of the aborigines and the Austrian Minister for Economy, Dr. Reihold Mitterlehner.