By Faridat Salifu
Experts at the Nigerian Academy of Science conference held in Abuja on Wednesday expressed the urgent need for gender-sensitive laws and policies to enhance the nation’s climate resilience.
The event, which focused on “Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Nigeria,” saw key stakeholders arguing that empowering women and integrating gender perspectives into climate action plans are vital to achieving long-term sustainability and meeting climate targets.
Vivian Njemanze, Deputy Clerk at the House of Representatives, and Technical Advisor at the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), stressed that research is a critical tool for shaping effective climate policies.
She called for comprehensive studies to help guide legislative frameworks that incorporate gender considerations into national climate responses.
“Women play an essential role in managing natural resources, and their involvement in climate action can drive significant changes in adaptation strategies,” Njemanze noted.
She added that policies should be designed with women’s expertise and needs at the forefront to ensure greater productivity and social benefits, aligning with both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on gender equality (SDG 5) and Climate Action (SDG 13).
Njemanze argued that fostering women’s participation in decision-making processes leads to improved climate outcomes, suggesting that policies should aim to reduce gender-based vulnerabilities and promote equality within climate change mitigation and adaptation programs.
Dr. Stanley Ukpai, Director of Projects at dRPC, highlighted the disproportionate effects of climate change on vulnerable groups, especially women.
He pointed to recent environmental disasters, such as flooding and the shrinking of Lake Chad, which threaten food security and disproportionately impact women who make up more than 50 percent of the agricultural workforce.
Ukpai emphasized the importance of incorporating gender-sensitive frameworks into climate resilience and adaptation strategies.
Dr. Saadatu Baba, Director of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Strategy Research at Kaduna State University, echoed these concerns, noting that climate change often worsens existing inequalities, particularly for marginalized populations.
“Women are especially vulnerable because they face structural inequities that hinder their adaptive capacity,” Baba said. She underlined the need for gender-specific laws to help women navigate climate impacts, whether they are farmers or working in other sectors.
Dr Saadatu warned that vulnerable populations—including women, children, displaced people, and those living with disabilities—are most at risk from climate change due to their lower adaptive capacity.
Therefore, she argued, addressing gender inequalities through policy and law is not just necessary for gender equity, but also for broader climate resilience.
The discussions at the conference underscore a growing consensus that integrating gender equality into climate action is essential for building a more inclusive, adaptive, and resilient future for Nigeria.
Experts hope that the recommendations from the event will prompt policymakers to prioritize gender-sensitive approaches in climate response strategies, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against climate change.
