Every week in the climate, science, social justice, and environmental spaces is as diverse as Uproot’s membership. Field Notes, our week-in-the-life blog posts, are snapshots of the varied experiences that make our community so vibrant. 

A Week in the Life

Monday:

Monday is the first day of my week and it is usually one of the busiest days, though I work from home all week. I start my day by planning and strategizing for the week. I write out all my dos and don’ts on a sticky note and paste on my shelf where I store books. Then I start checking my emails to check updates on pitches, publication of new articles. I also write content and analyses around climate or energy transition reporting.

However, this particular Monday, I traveled with my colleague to Port Harcourt, Niger Delta, for a Journalismfund Europe Fossil Fuels Grant Programme to investigate Shell’s announcement of divesting its Niger Delta onshore oil operations that has sparked concerns among local communities, in addition to shifting processes to evade liability and shifting decommissioning responsibilities. We met with the fixers and security personnel who were supposed to accompany us to the field, where we will interview community people affected by Shell’s oil spill and environmental pollution.

In the evening, I got back to the hotel and rested.

Tuesday:

I woke up in the morning, took my bath, and had my breakfast. Then I headed to a community that experienced oil spillage recently in Oghale, Port Harcourt. Something funny actually happened to me and my colleagues: we were almost harmed by some people who were covering up Shell’s recent pipeline oil leakage that polluted people’s farmland and water. It took the intervention of the soldiers to come to our rescue. Their commandant accompanied us to the chief’s palace for protection where we resettled things and left for another community.

Then, later in the afternoon, after rounding off the interview, I went to the hotel to relax. I contacted my editor later in the evening to welcome her back from leave.

Wednesday:

My day started with replying to outstanding emails that I had missed. Then, I headed to visit a community leader and activist with a fixer. I had a wonderful day interviewing a frontline leader who shared a first-hand account of how international oil companies have polluted their lands and fish. He lamented how the connivance of Shell with some traditional rulers has made getting justice for the people hard. The British oil company has been using a divide-and-rule strategy for the Niger Delta people. Most importantly, he emphasized the need for journalists to keep telling their stories highlighting their struggle, survival, and hope until the government and IOCs clean and restore their lands and compensate them appropriately.

Thursday:

I left PortHarcourt and returned to Abuja after a successful fieldwork for me and my team. I got home and spent time reviewing the interviews we in the field. I rested for about three to four hours and spent the remaining of my day surfing the internet and watching movies on Netflix.

Friday:

I spent my morning following up on pitches I had sent previously. Then, I started transcribing the interviews from my fieldwork. I had to engage a fixer to help transcribe the “Pidgin English” part of the interview to US English. Then, I read news articles on local media outlets about climate change, energy transition, and humanitarian crises. My day was quite productive for me.

Saturday and Sunday:

My Saturday is usually meant for resting. I avoid any official duties, spend time with my wife, and attend to other family matters. My Sunday is meant for attending church service and sleeping to my satisfaction before starting a new week.

From the Wild:

What’s your current beverage of choice?

Coke

What would your animal companion be if you were a cartoon character?

a lion

What do you never leave home without?

my phone

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