GOMBE/Nigeria: International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI), in collaboration with Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21ST) and Connected Advocacy (CA), has orchestrated an impactful sensitization initiative within the Difa community of Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area in Gombe State.
The event, themed “Raising Awareness on Net Zero in Nigeria,” sought to foster understanding and action on the pressing matter of net-zero carbon emissions.
At a day-long engagement held on Tuesday, community members gathered in Difa to partake in a dynamic discourse on emission reduction. The convener of the event, Mr. Olumide Idowu from ICCDI, underscored the pivotal role rural communities play in mitigating climate change. He emphasized that addressing this urgent challenge mandates a collective effort from all stakeholders.
Idowu stressed the imperative of inclusivity in the campaign, asserting that progress toward the net-zero carbon emission target necessitates that no one is left behind. This rationale prompted the civil society organizations (CSOs) to extend their awareness campaign to Difa, a rural settlement. Notably, this marks the conclusion of their net-zero campaign across five states: Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, and Edo.
Throughout the community engagement, CSOs have gained invaluable insights into the environmental and climate change issues faced by the Difa community. Idowu reflected, “Talking and listening to them help us understand that there are so many effects of climate change, issues related to biodiversity, afforestation, ecosystem.”
Commending the Difa community’s proactive stance on climate change and carbon emission reduction, Idowu highlighted the enhanced understanding they’ve gained regarding net-zero principles. He called upon the government and all stakeholders to redouble their efforts in raising awareness about emission reductions and climate change mitigation throughout Nigeria.
In a bid to fortify the message, Mr. Loknan Loknap, the Enforcement Officer of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Gombe State, urged the community to take emission reduction seriously. Loknap underscored the importance of proper waste management and increased focus on tree planting.
Adding to the discourse, Mr. Dauda Umar, an Account Officer of Jewel Environmental Initiative, an environment-focused NGO based in Gombe State, commended Difa community for embracing the tree-planting initiative championed by the state government. Umar pledged further support, promising an influx of tree seedlings to encourage robust tree planting efforts, a crucial step in combatting desertification.
Chairman of the Difa Community Development Association, Mr. Musa Mohammed, lauded the CSOs for their enlightening campaign on climate change. Mohammed hailed the initiative as an “eye-opener” for many community members and pledged to extend the campaign’s reach, rallying more individuals within the community to lend their support.
This comprehensive sensitization initiative in Gombe State’s Difa community underscores the grassroots drive toward net-zero carbon emissions, underpinned by a collective determination to combat climate change and safeguard the environment for current and future generations.
