By Concerned by the growing impacts of climate change, particularly on young people, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Earth Warriors, has organised a pre-policy development conference aimed at promoting the domestication of Nigeria’s Climate Change Framework among youths and women in Adamawa State.
The conference brought together experts, policymakers and other stakeholders in the environmental and climate change sector to interact with young people and discuss issues relating to climate change and policy development.
Speaking at the event on Friday in Yola, one of the facilitators, Dr. Emmanuel Bala Bwala, said the world is increasingly confronted with the realities of climate change, prompting countries to develop national climate change policies, with states expected to align with them.
He explained that the conference was designed to enlighten participants on climate change, its impacts, and the importance of understanding relevant policies that directly affect their lives.
Bwala added that the proposed policy document, once presented to the appropriate authorities, would provide government with a clear direction on how to accommodate the interests of youths and women in decisions and actions relating to climate change.
Also speaking, the President of Nigeria Earth Warriors and organiser of the conference, Musa Andrew, said many critical decisions affecting young people are often taken without their involvement.
He said the conference was organised to give youths the opportunity to contribute their ideas and ensure their interests are captured in the domestication of the climate change policy in Adamawa State.
According to him, participants were carefully selected because they understand the current environmental challenges, noting that some of them have experienced the effects of climate change through the loss of friends or loved ones.
Andrew expressed optimism that the conference would produce useful recommendations reflecting the collective interests of young people in the state.
He said the recommendations would be submitted to the Climate Change Working Group currently working on the state’s version of the climate change policy for possible inclusion.
In his remarks, the State Focal Person on Climate Change, Musa Usman, commended the organisers for the initiative, noting that the effort would add significant value to ongoing activities aimed at domesticating the climate change policy in
