The Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative, in Partnership with the Agile Governance and Climate Engagement programme, has concluded plans to educate some communities in Kaduna state on climate change.
The exercise will be led by Bridge That Gap (BTG) Initiative, a consortium partner of the four-year PACE programme.
The PACE programme aims to strengthen climate governance through a range of activities, including building capacity and influencing policy in Nigeria.
BTG Initiative executive director Gloria Bulus disclosed this on Wednesday, when she paid a visit to the traditional ruler of the Zangon Kataf community to seek royal blessings and gain the acceptance of the people for the implementation of the exercise.
Ms Bulus explained that the BTG initiative would lead to a six-month pilot project across Chikun, Zango Kataf, and Zaria local government areas in the state, focusing on awareness creation and deforestation.
She noted that the exercise would include training journalists on effective reporting of issues related to desertification, deforestation, and climate change, as well as a radio call-in programme.
She also said that energy-efficient cook stoves would be distributed to 50 women in the areas, while a baseline assessment would be conducted.
”We will also monitor the usage of the stoves in the Zonkwa community in the Zangon Kataf locality to know if our people are ready for this intervention, which aims to reduce the pressure women face in terms of using firewood. We will train selected women and build their capacity in governance and advocacy, because they will lead the advocacy of this project,” she said.
The BGT initiative’s executive director further stated that the project would include the planting of 2,000 trees in the community.
The traditional ruler, Luka Kogi-Yabwat, stated that the project was lofty and would outlive them, promising to support the initiative and instruct his people to provide all necessary support.
Similarly, Philip Jatau, the Sarkin Daji of Zonkwa, expressed excitement about the project, stating that it would benefit future generations and alleviate the pressure on women in accessing firewood.
Ayuba Diem, the secretary to the local government council, said the intervention would bring growth and development to the locality, thereby reducing the felling of trees and promoting awareness of climate change.
