By Abbas Nazil
A non-governmental organisation known as Earth Warriors Nigeria has organised a conference in Yola, Adamawa State, aimed at involving young people and women in discussions surrounding climate change policy and its domestication at the state level.
The engagement, described as a pre-policy development conference, was designed to familiarise participants with Nigeria’s climate change framework while encouraging them to contribute ideas that will shape how the policy is implemented locally.
The event brought together environmental experts, policymakers, and various stakeholders in the climate sector to interact directly with youths and women who are increasingly affected by climate-related challenges.
One of the facilitators at the conference, Emmanuel Bala Bwala, explained that climate change has become a pressing global issue that requires nations to develop comprehensive policies capable of addressing environmental realities and their socio-economic impacts.
According to him, countries across the world are already formulating national climate change strategies, and it is important for states within Nigeria to align with these frameworks by adapting them to local conditions.
Bwala noted that the conference was organised to enlighten participants about the meaning of climate change, its consequences, and the need for communities to understand government policies aimed at addressing the problem.
He emphasised that educating young people and women about climate change would help them appreciate its direct effects on their lives and enable them to actively participate in policy discussions and decision-making processes.
Bwala further explained that once the policy document emerging from the conference is presented to the relevant authorities, it will provide the government with clearer guidance on how to incorporate the interests and concerns of young people and women when implementing climate-related initiatives.
Also speaking at the event, the president of Earth Warriors Nigeria, Musa Andrew, stressed that decisions affecting the future of young people are often made without consulting them or considering their perspectives.
He said the organisation decided to host the conference to create a platform where youths and women could contribute their ideas and ensure that their voices are reflected in the climate policy domestication process in Adamawa State.
Andrew added that many of the participants were selected because they are familiar with the environmental challenges facing their communities, with some having experienced the loss of friends or relatives due to climate-related issues.
He expressed confidence that the discussions would generate practical recommendations that would represent the collective interests of young people across the state.
According to him, the final recommendations from the conference will be submitted to the Climate Change Working Group responsible for drafting the state’s version of the climate policy.
The suggestions will then be reviewed and possibly incorporated into the policy document currently being developed for implementation in Adamawa State.
In his remarks, the state focal person on climate change, Musa Usman, commended the organisers for initiating the conference and creating an opportunity for wider public participation in the policy process.
He noted that involving community members, particularly young people and women, would strengthen the state’s ongoing efforts to domesticate Nigeria’s climate change policy.
Usman added that such engagements are important for building awareness and ensuring that climate strategies reflect the needs and experiences of the people most affected by environmental challenges in the region.