VSO Nigeria Empowers Kano Women on Climate Action
By Mustapha Salisu
As part of their efforts to address the urgent challenges of climate change and chart a sustainable path forward, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), a non-governmental organization, hosted a two-day summit titled “Empowering Women for Climate Action in Kano State, Nigeria.”
The summit, held on Tuesday and Wednesday at Amani Event Center in Kano State, brought together diverse groups including women farmers, youth groups, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), academicians, ministries of women affairs, youth development, the media, and other relevant stakeholders.
In his address, Mr. Given Promise, The Youth Leadership and Engagement Specialist from VSO, stated that the organization established initiatives for the marginalised, especially for women, and the VSO women farmers hub is one of the initiatives to drive agroecology and to empower these women to be economically sustainable and achieve financial independence, and bring women to the front line of opportunities, participation and decision making especially concerning issues that affect their lives.
He added that the summit aimed to impart significant knowledge to participants on conducting community advocacies and effectively relaying climate action messages to people at the grassroots level through their community leaders and policymakers.
Mr. Promise noted that engaging people at the grassroots is crucial for understanding their needs for decision and policy-making. “The people at the grassroots are at the bottom level of the national strata and the last point of identifying human allocation or origin,” he emphasized.
The specialist outlined several strategies for community and democratic action, including identifying key stakeholders and understanding cultural and social dynamics, building relationships and partnerships, setting agendas and goals, acquiring resources (including knowledge and partner resources), leveraging community assets, planning and implementation, identifying challenges and turning them into advantages, and monitoring and tracking progress and impacts.
Dr. Hafsat Yahaya Yakasai from the Department of Public Administration at Bayero University, Kano, presented her paper on ‘Gender Inequalities & Climate Change.’ She explained that climate change exacerbates existing gender inequalities, affecting men and women differently due to their distinct social, economic, and cultural roles.
She noted that women bear a disproportionate burden in climate-related disasters and crises as they are often responsible for caregiving, food security, and water collection in many societies.
Dr. Hafsat emphasized that gender-specific vulnerabilities, such as limited access to resources, education, and decision-making power, can hinder women’s resilience to climate change impacts.
To address these challenges, she highlighted the necessity of incorporating gender considerations into climate policies and practices to promote social justice, enhance resilience, and achieve sustainable development outcomes for all.
Fatima Murtala, a Development Communication Specialist, presented on ‘Communication and Media Advocacy, Youth Leadership, and Community Engagement as Tools for Empowering Women for Climate Action.’ She lamented that contemporary society often prioritizes politics, sports, and entertainment over climate change messages.
According to her, “disasters linked to climate change don’t announce their occurrence, but they can give us signs and warnings. So, what we need is community engagement using our smartphones to communicate climate change messages without waiting for government or NGO intervention for our safety and well-being.”
Dr. Abdullahi Shuaibu Ahmad, from Audu Bako College of Agriculture in Kano, highlighted several barriers preventing women from taking effective climate action, including inadequate information, institutional barriers, and cultural and religious backgrounds. He emphasized the need for increased awareness among women about the dangers of climate change and advocated for their inclusion in formal decision-making processes regarding climate action.
Dr. Abdullahi called upon policymakers to support NGOs, communities, and other organizations working to mitigate the impacts of climate change in today’s society.
On his part, Musa Garba, a Director with the Renewable Energy and Climate Change Platform, emphasized the significant roles women can play in climate action, such as reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuels and waste materials in their communities. He suggested practical actions like planting trees or mini orchards in backyards, recycling waste materials, and promoting energy-efficient practices at home.
Mr. Barnabas Adesina, the State Coordinator for the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), emphasized the role of youths in combating climate change. He encouraged tree planting initiatives, nurturing trees planted in schools, and clearing drainages to prevent flooding.
Mr. Adesina urged youths to take proactive roles in community development, emphasizing the responsibility to maintain wider drainages to facilitate flood control, while also preventing narrow drainages from contributing to flooding during heavy downpours.
PRIME TIME NEWS reports that the two days summit was interactive featuring series of panel discussion sessions, with participants sharing their challenges, expectations, and ways forward towards ‘Empowering Women for Climate Action in Kano State, Nigeria.’
However, VSO Nigeria is an organization dedicated to alleviating poverty and inequality through collaborative citizenship and community engagement in Nigerian communities.
By building the capacities of primary actors, VSO creates changemakers who drive positive change, create lasting impacts, advocate, and demand accountability from duty bearers. At the core of VSO’s strategy and engagement is impactful inclusion, especially for women, children, and PWDs.
