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Tag: Climate Change

  • Climate change threatens 83% of Africa’s jobs

    Climate change threatens 83% of Africa’s jobs

    Experts say African governments must act urgently to protect jobs and livelihoods as climate change threatens 83 per cent of Africa’s jobs and the labour market.

    The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said this in a statement on its website.

    The experts spoke at a high-level side event of the 11th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD).

    The event was organised by the Macroeconomic Policy, Finance and Governance Division of the UN ECA.

    It focused on the findings of the Economic Report on Africa 2023 and 2024.

    Ms Nadia Ouedraogo, an Economic Affairs Officer at ECA, revealed that informal employment accounted for 83 per cent of all jobs in Africa in 2024.

    Ouedraogo said sectors such as agriculture, construction, and services sectors were highly vulnerable to climate-induced shocks.

    “Women and youth are especially at risk of job and income losses due to environmental degradation, erratic weather patterns and seasonal disruptions,” she said.

    Moderating the session, Ms Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy Division, said climate change was not only destroying livelihoods but also threatening financial and macroeconomic stability across Africa.

    “While these climate-related shocks are eroding growth and fiscal buffers, they also present opportunities for transformation through green innovation and investment,” Schwidrowski said.

    In his remarks, Mr Sam Koojo, Assistant Commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, called for stronger partnerships between governments, the private sector and development partners.

    “We must collaborate, co-create solutions, and prioritise climate action that drives job creation and inclusive growth,” he said.

    Echoing the urgency, Mr Andrew Allieu, a Senior Economist with the ILO Regional Office for Africa, warned that climate change could displace millions and widen social inequalities.

    “The livelihoods of 1.2 billion workers who depend on natural resources are at risk.

    ”Heat stress alone is already causing a 2.3 per cent loss in working hours and that could translate to 14 million jobs lost by 2030,” he said.

    Mr Etienne Espagne, Senior Climate Economist at the World Bank, stressed the need for coordinated regional action to build high-skill, climate-resilient jobs.

    “Aligning supply chains with regional strengths will reduce risks and ensure shared prosperity. Early investment in renewables and innovation is essential to secure green jobs,” Espagne added.

    Also speaking, Ms Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, emphasised that public-private partnerships are key to attracting green investments and fostering inclusive development.

    “Women must be fully included in the green transition not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders in decision-making and innovation,” she said.

    Panelists also raised concern about projected economic losses, with a one per cent rise in temperature potentially cutting Africa’s GDP by 2.2 per cent by 2030, particularly impacting West Africa.

    They warned that without targeted policies, the shift away from fossil fuels could worsen inequality, especially in West and Central Africa.

    The experts estimated that the carbon market alone could create up to 400 million jobs by 2050, in addition to those in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.

    The session concluded with calls to scale up reskilling programmes for youth and informal workers, strengthen social protection, and unlock innovative financing to accelerate Africa’s green transition.

  • Climate change to adversely affect learning as 2.2bn children at risk by 2050-Report

    Climate change to adversely affect learning as 2.2bn children at risk by 2050-Report

    Rising temperatures and heat waves are not only threatening our environment but also disrupting the learning environments of millions of children worldwide.

    A report by Global Partnership for Education, GPE, in conjunction with the World Bank has said.

    The report is titled: Too hot to learn: The impact of climate change on education.

    It went further to state that by 2050 almost every child in the world – nearly 2.2 billion children – will be exposed to frequent heat waves.

    Therefore, it called for investing in climate-resilient schools and education systems, saying it is essential to ensure that every child realises their right to learn in a safe and conducive learning environment.

    “Climate change has psychologically and physically affected our learning. It is also making the school environment unhealthier day by day,” Prakash,18-year-old student in Nepal, said.

    Heat waves, exacerbated by climate change, are becoming more frequent and intense. This poses a significant educational challenge, particularly in regions with inadequate infrastructure and resources.

    Schools in many parts of the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries, lack proper ventilation, cooling systems, and access to safe drinking water. This can make classrooms unbearable and potentially hazardous during extreme heat.

    When temperatures soar, governments often face the dilemma of keeping schools open or closing them temporarily – disrupting children’s continuity of learning.

    It added that in May 2024, heatwave in Pakistan forced schools to close, leaving 26 million, or more than half of the country’s school-age children, out of the classroom. In April, South Sudan closed its schools for 2.2 million students when temperatures soared to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). Thousands of schools in Bangladesh, India and the Philippines have also had to close due to extreme heat.

    In recent years, these heat waves have arrived earlier, become more severe and lasted longer, leaving schools unprepared to cope.

    In humanitarian contexts, the impact of heat waves on education becomes even more urgent. Vulnerable communities grapple with multiple challenges of climate change, conflict and forced displacement, making access to quality education a critical lifeline for children.

    Even if students continue attending classes during heat waves, their education will likely suffer. High air temperatures and lower hydration levels are known to affect children’s ability to concentrate, retain, and process information, impacting overall school achievements.

    In South Asia, 78 per cent of students surveyed said that their studies had been affected by climate change. Most cited either an inability to concentrate during heat waves, damage to their school buildings, or disruptions to their journey to school.

    As heat waves become more frequent and last longer, the need for urgent action grows stronger.

    Recent data suggest that action is urgently needed to make education systems climate-resilient: in 2023, a UNICEF survey found that among 40 countries assessed as having high or extremely high risk of children’s exposure and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, only a third of such countries reported concrete government action on greening education.

    Recognising the profound implications of climate change on education, governments, with support from UNICEF, the Global Partnership for Education and other actors, are working to strengthen the climate resilience of children, education personnel, schools, and education systems.

    Greater attention on preparedness efforts can protect marginalized populations, especially children.

    This includes improving school infrastructure to ensure that educational facilities can withstand extreme weather conditions and disasters, including structural improvements such as better ventilation and cooling systems.

    Efforts are also underway to upskill teachers on climate-resilient practices and emergency preparedness, empowering them to support students and communities during crises.

    Additionally, governments are implementing policy reforms and investments that integrate climate resilience into education sector planning and decision-making.

    These initiatives promote green skills and engage children and young people in climate-smart solutions and local climate advocacy.

    These efforts are urgently needed, as UNICEF survey data show that a mere 8 percent of countries report providing climate education to at least 70 percent of children and offering professional development opportunities to teachers in climate education.

  • CLIMATE change: EU scientists predict 2024 to be hottest year on record

    CLIMATE change: EU scientists predict 2024 to be hottest year on record

    The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service disclosed on Thursday that year 2024 is “virtually certain” to surpass 2023 as the world’s warmest since records began.

    The data was released ahead of next week’s UN COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, where countries will try to reach an agreement on a significant increase in funding to tackle climate change.

    C3S stated that from January to October, the average global temperature was so high that 2024 was certain to be the world’s hottest year – unless the temperature anomaly for the rest of the year dropped to near zero.

    “The fundamental, underlying cause of this year’s record is climate change,” C3S Director Carlo Buontempo made this disclosure to journalists on Thursday.

    “The climate is warm, generally. It’s warming on all continents, in all ocean basins. So we are bound to see these records being broken,” he said.

    The scientists also said that 2024 will be the first year in which the planet’s temperature is more than 1.5°C hotter than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale.

    Carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal, oil, and gas are the main causes of global warming.

    A climate scientist at the public research university ETH Zurich, Sonia Seneviratne, said she was not surprised by the milestone.

    She urged governments at COP29 to agree on stronger action to reduce their economies’ reliance on CO2-emitting fossil fuels.

    “The limits set in the Paris Agreement are starting to crumble due to the too-slow pace of climate action across the world,” Seneviratne said.

    Countries agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement to try to prevent global warming from surpassing 1.5°C (2.7°F) to avoid its worst consequences.

    The world has not yet breached that target – which refers to an average global temperature of 1.5°C over decades – but C3S now expects the world to exceed the Paris goal around 2030.

    “It’s basically just around the corner now,” Buontempo said.

    Every fraction of a temperature increase exacerbates extreme weather.

    In October, catastrophic flash floods killed hundreds of people in Spain, record wildfires ravaged Peru, and flooding in Bangladesh destroyed more than one million tonnes of rice, sending food prices soaring.

  • Sultan berates religious leaders misleading followers

    Sultan berates religious leaders misleading followers

    Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Sa’ad Abubakar II, has cautioned religious leaders against misleading their followers for personal aggrandisement. He charged them to repent, follow and preach the authentic teachings of their religion towards building a decent society.

    The Sultan, who is also the President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), stated this at the Regional Conference on Climate Change-Induced Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, held on Monday in Kaduna.

    The conference was organised by the Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith in partnership with International Alert.

    “Let me advise religious leaders to avoid misleading their followers for personal gain, majority of worshippers in Mosques and Churches regard them as spiritual guides and place profound trust in them.

    “Do your best in worshiping Allah and leave everything else to Him. Many challenges have emerged in this country, but we believe that returning to God and intensifying prayers in our places of worship will bring hope.

    “Difficulties are temporary, and nothing lasts forever. Let us continue to pray for our leaders and avoid condemnation, trusting that God will address matters as He is all knowing and all seeing,” he said.

    The monarch urged Nigerians to refrain from disparaging their leaders, instead, they should entrust them to God’s judgment.

    He said: “Nothing, whether good or bad, last forever”, while encouraging citizens to consistently pray for their leaders and the nation to witness prevailing peace, unity, growth and development.

    Addressing leaders, the Sultan reminded them of their accountability to God on the Day of Judgment, “where you will face scrutiny for your actions without anyone to defend you.”

    Reflecting on leadership, the Sultan said: “On that final Day, each person stands alone before God. No deputy or adviser will be there to support you. Let’s hold ourselves accountable and strive for a better country through faith and perseverance.”

    Abubakar identified some critical issues threatening the growth and unity of Northern Nigeria to include; climate change, poverty, and insecurity.

    He, therefore, urged Northerners to remain united, warning that some external forces were working to divide the region due to its historical influence.

    Most Reverend Dr. Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), echoed the Sultan’s sentiments, acknowledging the urgent humanitarian crisis brought by climate change in the North.

    He stressed the need to tackle the underlying causes of conflict, including, poverty, inequality, lack of public awareness on climate impacts and environmental responsibility.

    Okoh joined the Sultan in calling on leaders to be truthful, emphasising that: “Nigeria’s success depends on prayer and seeking divine guidance.”

    In his remarks, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State, called on Northern states, religious leaders, and agencies to unite in tackling climate-induced conflicts and promoting peace across the region.

    According to Sani, climate change poses significant risks to Northern Nigeria, threatening livelihoods and fueling competition for resources, particularly among agrarian and pastoral communities.

    The governor listed the realities of rising temperatures, desert encroachment, and deforestation as some of the factors exacerbating poverty and displacing communities in the region.

    To address the root causes of climate-induced conflicts, the governor proposed sustainable agricultural practices, improved water management, and initiatives for peacebuilding through dialogue and collaboration.

  • Why youth entrepreneurs are key to tackling climate change in Africa – By Tony Elumelu

    Why youth entrepreneurs are key to tackling climate change in Africa – By Tony Elumelu

    By Tony O. Elumelu

    I am a proud Nigerian and a proud African. I am also a philanthropist and entrepreneur—and I have seen firsthand that to effectively tackle climate change within the African context, from Egypt to Nigeria to South Africa, we must look to the people it impacts.

    Too often our businesses have not created value on our continent or traded commodities for short-term profit, not long-term investment. Fostering entrepreneurship, sustaining young entrepreneurs, who will grow businesses and create sustainable employment, is a crucial pathway to achieving long-term climate solutions.

    In 2010, my wife and I had an idea. Concerned with escalating poverty, we founded the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and committed $100 million to identify, mentor, and fund young African entrepreneurs—young people with brilliant ideas and the drive to tackle the continent’s most pressing challenges. They lacked capital, connections, and mentors. They lacked luck. We wanted to change that. It was a bold bet aimed at empowering Africa’s most vulnerable and populous demographic, encouraging them to create their own wealth, rather than relying on aid. And the bet paid off.

    Since its inception, the foundation has empowered 20,000 entrepreneurs across 54 African countries, who have created 400,000 direct and indirect jobs and generated over $2.3 billion in revenue. We have provided access to business training to more than 1.5 million young people.

    Given the scale of the task, we partner with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the European Union (EU), and other partners to deepen our reach and impact. We provide funding, mentorship, business training, and advocacy support to entrepreneurs—specifically, in fragile regions, conflict zones, and underserved communities.

    Together, we address challenges like youth unemployment, poverty, and insurgency through entrepreneurship. In 2022, we partnered with UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU) and IKEA Foundation, to launch a Green Entrepreneurship Program that empowers youth whose businesses address the triple planetary crisis. Of the 20,000 young men and women entrepreneurs that TEF has empowered, more than 500 are directly or indirectly solving challenges related to climate change, and over a third (35%) working in the agricultural sector.

    By empowering young people, we are establishing a dynamic engine that drives economic growth and development across the continent. These entrepreneurs also become vital pillars of support within their communities. They are not only creating essential jobs and income, but also uplifting families and breaking the cycle of poverty. And now, more than ever, is the time to bring a climate-lens to this entrepreneurship.

    Africa is warming more quickly than the rest of the world. By 2030, an estimated 118 million Africans are projected to face drought, and rising sea levels threaten coastal regions, potentially displacing millions. Climate change is impeding access to basic necessities: water, power, food, and education. But these challenges also offer extraordinary opportunities for those with an entrepreneurial mindset to tackle climate change, while simultaneously creating significant economic value.

    For instance, how can we enhance the sustainability of smallholder farmers, which comprise 80% of all farms in sub-Saharan Africa and employ 60% of the continent’s workforce? What strategies can be employed by African nations with vast forests—such as Gabon, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo—to effectively leverage these critical carbon sinks?

    To unlock the full potential of green solutions in Africa, we must nurture entrepreneurship—and this cannot be achieved by governments alone. We need to integrate government incentive schemes, with the opportunities presented by the private sector. It is imperative that we unite philanthropies, policymakers, and businesses. I refer to this movement as “Africapitalism”—a call for partnership led by the private sector, focused on fostering prosperity for all.

    Global warming is not an inevitable fate. Entrepreneurs are inherently problem solvers; they possess the curiosity to explore opportunities and challenges, the creativity to devise innovative solutions, and the determination to transform obstacles into successes. Youth entrepreneurship can be a solution to averting the looming crisis of climate impact. It’s time to harness this power.

  • FG mulls new tax for climate change

    FG mulls new tax for climate change

    The Federal Government has urged relevant stakeholders to embrace carbon tax to help tackle climate change in the country.

    Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, Acting Vice Chancellor, University  of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), said this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ workshop on “Understanding the Incentives and Obstacles to Effective Carbon Tax Regimes in West African Countries.”

    Ezeokonkwo described carbon taxation as a cost charged on the amount of carbon emissions into the space.

    He said that the Federal Government through the development which was introduced by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) was developing a framework to determine the amount to be charged based on the quantum of emissions.

    He  said that the Federal Government,  through the NCCC, was devising strategies to implement a robust carbon finance (carbon market framework and carbon tax regime) for the country in line with the Climate Change Act.

    This, he said, followed the ongoing global dialogue on climate change mitigation, which emphasises the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through practical policy measures such as carbon taxation.

    The Vice Chancellor called on the stakeholders to ensure that they sensitised the public to buy into the government plan.

    “The theme of today’s workshop is timely as the Federal Government, through the NCCC, is devising strategies to implement a robust carbon finance, carbon market framework and carbon tax regime for the country in line with the Climate Change Act.

    “The timing of this workshop is crucial given the ongoing global dialogue on climate change mitigation, which emphasises the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through practical policy measures such as carbon taxation.

    “Your role as stakeholders is crucial. While effective carbon pricing is acknowledged as a powerful tool in the global battle against climate change, getting public support for environmental policies remains a significant challenge in Africa.

    “This workshop, therefore, seeks your valuable input from pertinent stakeholders in the realms of carbon pricing and fuel subsidy reforms in Nigeria and Ghana” he said.

    In his remarks, Head, Economic Regulation, National Petroleum Authority of  Ghana, Abass  Tasunti,  stated  that Ghana was also on the verge of ensuring that fossil fuel emission was drastically reduced.

    Tasunti said that the country’s target was mainly the industries that emit a large scale carbon.

    He however, said that so far, the country had not arrived at a fixed rate for it.

    “The whole essence of carbon taxation, in my view, is to introduce taxes that move people away from the consumption of fossil fuel.

    “Policymakers are looking for a way to impose taxes on petroleum products and use them to provide the other alternative fuels.

    “If they are done, it will give consumers options because you will agree with me that fossil fuel will not go off immediately.

    “These carbon TAXATION initiatives and cleaner fuel initiatives are supposed to complement the use of fossil fuels” he said.

  • Africa loses $7bn to $15bn yearly to climate change – Adesina

    Africa loses $7bn to $15bn yearly to climate change – Adesina

    Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the Group President, African Development Bank (AfDB), said Africa is  losing about seven to 15 billion dollars annually to the ravages of climate change.

    Adesina said this during a media conference in Nairobi on the sidelines of the ongoing AfDB Annual Meetings 2024.

    The meeting marks the 60th anniversary and 59th Annual Assembly of the AfDB and the 50th meeting of the African Development Fund (ADF).

    Adesina said while Africa contributed minimally to global emissions, it bore the disproportionate burden of environmental degradation catastrophes.

    According to him, the continent, accounting for a mere three to four per cent of emissions, is unexpectedly suffering the most severe consequences of environmental upheaval.

    He said the situation would   worsen if immediate action was  not taken, adding that by 2030, Africa’s annual losses to climate change could skyrocket to a staggering 40 billion dollars.

    “Africa loses seven to 15 billion dollars a year to climate change. If that does not change, that will grow to roughly 40 billion dollars annually by 2030.

    “That means we are losing much of our potential for something we did not cause, because Africa did not account for more than three to four per cent of climate emissions.

    “But it is suffering today disproportionately from the negative consequences of climate change, which can amplify the strain on already vulnerable economies,” he said.

    According to the AfDB president, the unfolding events clearly portray Africa’s struggle against the elements.

    “From Malawi’s worst drought in memory to Zimbabwe’s declaration of a national emergency due to severe drought, Mozambique grappling with devastating floods, the continent is besieged by extreme weather events.

    Adesina emphasised the need for action that was beyond mere acknowledgement, a need for global financial support to bolster Africa’s resilience and facilitate adaptation measures.

    “Africa’s economy’s future is going to depend on building resilience to these particular shocks because climate change is devastating the whole continent,” he said.

  • Agric Minister blames rise in food prices on climate change

    Agric Minister blames rise in food prices on climate change

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, says climate change poses significant risks to food security by reducing crop yields and increasing food prices.

    Kyari stated this at a joint news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, on Agricultural production utilisation of seasonal climate prediction by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    He also said that climate change had disrupted supply chains, particularly in vulnerable regions with limited adaptive capacity.

    Kyari said that the added importance of the Seasonal Prediction was highlighted by the vagaries of climate change world-wide.

    “It is clearly the case now that the native knowledge and wisdom on which small-holder farmers often relied to cultivate their fields, are inadequate under the relentless impact of climate change.

    “Accordingly, managing climate risks in the agriculture sector through climate information and early warning services are important tools.

    “In other words, integrating meteorological information as part of support services to agricultural production helps reduce losses to extreme weather events.

    It  also take advantage to maximise the benefits of favourable weather,” he said.

    The minister said that small-holder farmers were primary and significant players in Nigeria’s agricultural space, with rain-fed  being the predominant practice.

    “But rain-fed agriculture is susceptible to elements of climate change, such as flood and drought, if no concrete action is taken to adapt to erratic weather conditions,” he said.

    He said that the Ministry and NIMET in 2023 commenced the implementation of cascading climate information to Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Oyo, Rivers, and Yobe, as well as the FCT.

    Also speaking, the Director -General , NIMET, Prof. Charles Anosike, said the event would further strengthen the relationship between NIMET and the ministry.

    He said that the agency would like to build on the ministry’s database of farmers to disseminate weather and climate predictions to the smallholders farmers.

    Anosike said  NIMET is right now using platforms like radio, National Television, social media, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC ) and different languages to integrate meteorological information to farmers.

    “We have Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa and pidgin, now we are trying to explore SMS. So, building on the database of farmers is a critical element that we want to explore moving forward,” he said.

    He said that the issue of food security required consistent and deliberate efforts from all stakeholders not just to cooperate but to empower and equip farmers.

    In a presentation, NIMET said that crops were sensitive to climate change, including changes in temperature and precipitation.

  • Rep seeks local adaptation strategies to climate change

    Rep seeks local adaptation strategies to climate change

    Rep. Terseer Ugbor, Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment has called for the development of local strategies on climate change adaption.

    Ugbor made the call on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Development Agenda in collaboration with the Environmental Media Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.

    The theme of the conference is “Climate Change and COP28: The Way Forward for Nigeria.”

    The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) is scheduled to hold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

    Ugbor said everyone needs to look inward and adopt things that could help us to take action “on our own before we think of attracting international support.

    “We need to look inward and develop local adaptation strategies; every one of us should take a stand and make efforts personally so that in our own little way we contribute to climate change adaptation.

    “Wipe of energy system and other models that can help us to reduce climate issues in our environment.

    “If we have this mindset and put our money where our mouth is we may not need international support,”he said.

    Ugbor who said that Nigeria has several laws on climate change emphasised that with the establishment of Nigeria Climate Council, there is hope for a climate change adaptation in the country.

    According to him, he expects that we have a unified focus to be able to attract as much investment as possible.

    On his part, Mr Michael Terungwa, Executive Director of Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, urged the media to hold international organisations accountable for their financial commitment to developing nations on climate change adaptation.

    Terungwa who identified climate financing as a big challenge to Nigeria and Africa as a whole, expressed concern that climate change adaption was not been financed.

    According to him, there was a need to connect climate change and its local impact down to the grassroots.

    He challenged the media on the implementation of policies on climate change issues.

    Terungwa urged the media to intensify awareness on climate change at the local level.

    He said that a lot of people at the grassroots are unaware of the implication of some of their activities to the environment

    “There is need for awareness. We need to frame climate change as a bipartisan issue and sustained enlightenment programme at the grassroots,” he said.

  • Niger Gov. blames nation’s insecurity on climate change

    Niger Gov. blames nation’s insecurity on climate change

    Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger has blamed the current insecurity in the country on the effect of climate change.

    The statement was made by the Niger state Governor at a retreat which was organised for members of the House of Representatives Press Corps in Minna on Friday.

    He said, “part of the insecurity we face today is attributed to climate change which deserves priority attention”.

    According to him, we have problems of flood, desertification, environmental pollution, and in spite efforts being made the devastating effects of climate change are recorded yearly.

    He said it was unfortunate that some of these disasters were underreported, adding that perhaps the media is not adequately equipped to handle it.

    “I believe that as journalists who report the parliament where laws are enacted, it is essential that you acquire the necessary skills and tools to mainstream climate change.

    The governor said that this would enable the media to set agenda for the legislature and indeed the executive.

    He said the government of Niger under his leadership would prioritise climate change to mitigate natural and manmade disasters.

    This he said informed the decision to convoke a Green Economy Summit slated for Oct. 24 to 25.

    “Since my assumption of office, we have raised the ante of informing the public about preventive measures to save lives and reduce damage to property and infrastructure.

    ” We are willing to collaborate with the media to drive this advocacy as well as work out strategies to put climate change issues on the front burner, ” he said.

    He said at the end of the retreat, journalists would be better positioned to inform, educate and enlighten the society on the implications of climate change.

    Earlier, Grace Ike, the Chairman of the corps, said “the Niger’s Green Economy is here while other States are lamenting the effects of climate change, this is a landscape step to position the state”.

    She commended Bago’s innovative ideas in the area of economy and security, adding that the media played a significant role in the development of the society.