Organization to Equip 20 Climate Champions in Gombe
From Hajara Usman
Yandy Tech Community, a Non-Governmental Organization, is set to equip 20 climate champions in Gombe State through its project, Youth Empowerment for Climate Action in Nigeria (YE-CAN) to spearhead efforts to address the pressing challenges of climate change.
Mal. Mohammed Yayandy, the founder of the organisation, made this known in Gombe yesterday while launching the application portal for aspiring champions.
He emphasized that priority would be given to Local Government Areas facing the most severe climate challenges.
Yayandy highlighted the devastating impact of climate change in Gombe State, including the increased frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events.
He pointed out that these challenges disproportionately affect young people aged 18 to 25, who are often excluded from decision-making processes.“In Gombe State, we conducted an online baseline survey to gather insights from young people.
A total of 215 responses were recorded. Of these, 28.97% were aged 18 to 25, 57.94% were aged 25 to 35, and 12.15% were aged 35 and above. The least represented group was those under 18, accounting for just 0.93%,” Yayandy explained.
He further stated that the YE-CAN project aims to change this narrative by equipping the targeted population with the necessary tools and support to become climate leaders.
The call for applications to recruit the 20 YE-CAN champions was launched today and will remain open for two weeks. In his remarks.
Mr. Absolom Baba, Deputy Director Environment,Ministry for Envuronment Gombe state emphasised that education is a critical tool in addressing climate change, while
urging the NGO to conduct educational and public awareness campaigns on climate change and ensure public participation and access to information on the issue.
He also noted that deforestation, driven by activities such as farming and land clearing, contributes to carbon emissions, as trees release stored carbon when cut down.
Our correspondent reports that Yandy Tech Community recently paid a courtesy visit to the Ministries of Youth, Agriculture, and Environment, where the commissioners pledged their support to ensure the program’s success.
