The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) says it has trained no fewer than 50 communities volunteers on climate change monitoring and reporting in Nasarawa State to create awareness on climate change in the community and report back to relevant authorities.
Hajiya Habiba Suleiman, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Abdullahi Sule of the state on Human Capital Development, while declaring the workshop open on Friday in Lafia, lauded the efforts of YMCA towards reducing impacts of climate change.
According to her, the Nasarawa State government is concerned about the security of lives and property of people, and will continue to checkmate activities that will contribute to climate change so as to mitigate its effects on environments.
Suleiman advised people to desist from activities capable of increasing damage already caused by climate change such as cutting down of tree, building on water ways, bush burning, use of charcoal, dumping of refuse in the drains among others.
“There’s no doubt the effects of climate change is staring right here in front of all of us; flooding, drought, heat spell, truly speaking is quite commendable that YMCA has taken this upon itself.
“YMCA community service is beyond measure, and as a government we are proud to associates with and partners YMCA, government has never taken climate change issues for granted, it has done a lot and will continue to do,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Matayashi Aselema, Director, Women Affairs in the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Mr Angbashim Ishaku, Director, Climate change in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources both called for concerted efforts to reduce climate change impacts.
Aselema said that the state Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with education ministry, was going to present a memorandum to include climate change in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools in the forthcoming national council on women affairs.
“We have to put a stop to all the activities that impacts negatively on climate such as cutting down tree, building on water ways, dumping of refuse in the drain, let’s cooperate with one another in joining this global campaign to save our environment,” she said.
Mr Ango Adamu, the Executive Secretary of YMCA Mada Hills, said that the training aim at equipping 50 monitoring and reporting volunteers officers with relevant knowledge that would help them in the field.
Adamu, who is also a coordinator, African Activists for Climate Justice project in Nasarawa State, said that YMCA was working with government agencies; Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Women Affairs to support government activities towards tackling climate change.
According to him, the training is a continuation of African Activists for Climate Justice Project, which YMCA in collaboration with the Association of Small Scale Agro- Producers in Nigeria is jointly implementing in Nasarawa state, with the support from Oxfam.
Adamu said that the 50 volunteers officers were selected from five local governments of Akwanga, Kokona, Nassarawa Eggon, Lafia and Obi and they are expected to step down the knowledge to the larger community.