Empowering Students to Tackle Climate Change in Enugu
Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, is a global crisis manifesting in rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, severe weather events, and sea level rise. These changes pose significant risks to ecosystems, human health, food security, water resources, and economic stability. In Nigeria, the impacts of climate change are evident in desertification, land degradation, increased flooding, and reduced agricultural productivity. Enugu State, in particular, faces challenges such as disrupted agricultural activities, soil erosion, and an increased prevalence of waterborne diseases due to altered rainfall patterns and rising temperatures.
Recognising the urgency of these issues through the Strategic Partnership Agreement II (SPA II) project the South Saharan Social Development Organization, with support from ActionAid, took the initiative to address them through a one-day sensitisation outreach and climate policy dialogue session. This event was held at the Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, with the aim of enhancing environmental sustainability, raising awareness, and encouraging proactive environmental stewardship among students. This initiative was crucial for promoting sustainable development and building resilience against the adverse impacts of climate change.
Okoh Happiness, a second-year student, was one of the attendees. “Before now, I never thought I had a part to play in improving or supporting the environment. I always thought it was the government’s responsibility. But now, I see how I can improve environmental sustainability and biodiversity by breeding grasscutters rather than focusing on consumption,” she shared. Okoh’s revelation highlights the shift in perspective that the event aimed to achieve. By understanding that individuals have a role in combating climate change, students like Okoh can take tangible steps to make a difference.
Okweye Blessed, a final-year student, also attended the session. He shared his newfound insight: “I have been enlightened to how much impact planting trees have on our environment. Rather than looking for walls or boards to sign my name on, I could invest by planting a tree.” Blessed’s commitment to planting trees showcases the practical actions that students can take to contribute to environmental sustainability.
The stories of Okoh Happiness and Okweye Blessed are just two examples of the many students who left the event with a renewed sense of responsibility and empowerment. Through this sensitisation outreach and climate policy dialogue session, the South Saharan Social Development Organisation and ActionAid successfully fostered a generation of environmentally conscious individuals ready to take proactive steps toward mitigating the effects of climate change. By focusing on the people at the heart of this initiative, it becomes clear that change begins with informed and motivated individuals who recognise their role in shaping a sustainable future.
