By Ojugbele Omotunde
The Principal Secretary of the State Department for Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Education, Kenya, Dr. Beatrice Muganda lnyangala, has underlined the necessity of education in providing youth with the values, information, and abilities necessary for resilience and sustainable development.
She said the Nairobi Summer School of Climate Justice is credited with giving young people the chance to study about climate change and related discourses which serves as a catalyst for change.
Iyangala made these statements on Monday in Nairobi, Kenyan capital, where officials from 87 countries, including dignitaries and youths, convened for the International Symposium on Climate Justice.
The event also serves as the launchpad for the fourth Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice (NSSCJ), with the theme “Igniting Youth Power for Enhanced Global Solidarity on Climate Justice.”
Also at the Summit, Dr. Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) stated that the youths interest in the topic is a good start toward tackling climate change in Africa and worldwide while also underscoring the role of youth in promoting climate justice.
He continued, saying that since its founding in 2020, more than 1,500 alumni of NSSCJ have been positioned in climate venues such as the African Group of Negotiators, Commonwealth, and United Nations, and that they are still active advocates for climate justice in Africa and beyond.
The youth attending the program were lauded by Ayele Kabede, the Programme Manager for SIDA’s Regional Office in Africa, who also underlined the significance of increasing their knowledge and competence regarding climate justice and climate change and also emphasizing that the youths holds the key to the future.
Similar to the major discussion at last year Summit, the discussions in Nairobi revolved around COP29 to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, later this year.
