by Faridat Salifu
Women across Nigeria are moving beyond being viewed as victims of climate change to becoming leaders in climate adaptation and environmental protection, Professor Ayodele Morocco-Clarke has said.
The Professor of Energy, Climate and Environmental Law and Policy at Nile University of Nigeria said women-led organisations and community groups are driving gender-responsive climate action despite facing systemic inequalities that limit their participation in environmental governance.
Speaking on the sidelines of the GenderInclusive Climate Change Governance (GenCGov) International Conference held in Abuja, Morocco-Clarke said women are increasingly championing sustainable agriculture, mangrove restoration, waste management and other community-based initiatives that strengthen climate resilience.
She noted that women-led coalitions are also advocating subnational accountability by demanding that climate finance and environmental protection measures reach communities most affected by environmental degradation.
“Instead of sitting down to complain and wait for succour from above, grassroots women-led coalitions are actively driving the shift toward gender-responsive climate policies,” she said.
According to her, women account for nearly half of Nigeria’s population and make up a significant proportion of the country’s agricultural labour force, yet they continue to face barriers such as limited access to land ownership, finance and long-term investments in climate-resilient agriculture.
She added that climate-related disasters, including floods and droughts, disproportionately affect women and children, increasing displacement, gender-based violence and health risks.
Despite these challenges, Morocco-Clarke said women are demonstrating leadership through local initiatives in states such as Cross River and the Niger Delta, where cooperatives are promoting sustainable agroecology, mangrove restoration and improved waste management practices.
She also highlighted the contributions of the Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment (WISE) and the Nigeria Women’s Climate Assembly (NWAC), describing them as organisations that are advancing locally driven and inclusive climate action.
Morocco-Clarke, who chaired the session on Climate Justice, Women’s Leadership and Subnational Accountability at the conference, said Nigeria must ensure that women are fully included in climate governance and decision-making.
She observed that although the Federal Government has adopted a Climate Change Gender Policy, implementation at state and local government levels remains weak due to governance gaps and cultural barriers that limit women’s participation.
According to her, women-led groups are increasingly calling for transparent management of climate funds, stronger environmental protection measures and greater accountability from governments to ensure climate policies benefit vulnerable communities.
The GenCGov International Conference, held on June 23 and 24 in Abuja, brought together policymakers, academics, civil society organisations and climate experts to examine climate governance under the theme, “Governing Climate in an Age of Retreat, Risk, and Geopolitical Re-alignment.”
Source : Vanguard News
