December 10th, 2014: A team of students from Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have taken the second runners up position at the 14th annual Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) public speaking competition.
Among more than 50 teams taking part in the event, the CUD trio of Rabiatu Baba Shehu, Rahaf Al Saif and Nicole D'Cunha took the top three spot for their presentation entitled, ‘Green Economy, Commitment and Responsibility’.
Supported by CUD’s Student Services department, the girls were up against teams from institutions across the entire MENA region at the two-day event held at Dubai Knowledge Village conference centre. The annual competition serves as a platform for young people to analyze and debate environmental issues relevant to the region and globally, and to consider sustainable solutions.
Speaking about her inspiration for taking part in the competition, lead presenter and environmental student Rabiatu said, “Through my program of study I’ve learnt a lot about the harsh reality of the world we live in, such as the scarcity of water, even the potential for future water wars.
“It’s predicted that if we continue to consume our natural resources at our current rate, the earth will be unable to sustain us by the year 2050! This is not far off and there is an urgent need to address sustainability to help prevent future disasters.
“I’ve been inspired by seeing examples of people standing-up to make a change. I want to be among the future environmental guardians and help to maintain our resources for future generations to come.”
The team’s presentation focused on the social and economic, as well environmental benefits of a green economy and considered the responsibilities of Governments, citizens, the media, and educational and corporate institutions in playing their part.
Rabiatu continued, “The green economy is a very practical subject that everyone can appreciate and engage with. It’s also important from a commerce perspective, and we need to encourage people to properly evaluate the benefits.”
Speaking of the competition experience, Rabiatu concluded, “This was my first time attending the EEG Competition and I was in awe of some of the presentations I witnessed; evidently many of the students had put great efforts into the contest. All in all it was a good experience and I am already looking forward to participating in next year’s competition.”
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