Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) and the Centre for Climate Change & Development, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Nigeria (CCCD- AEFUNAI), in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change (DCC), Federal Ministry of Environment Nigeria held a workshop to discuss and share knowledge about climate change adaptation in Nigeria.
The workshop brought together key policymakers, civil society organisations (CSOs, non-organisation organisations (NGOs) and other relevant stakeholders to develop key policy priorities for locally-led adaptation to climate change in Nigeria.
Executive Director of APRI, Dr Olumide Abimbola, said: “APRI has a dedicated focus to providing policy options and alternatives to African policymakers and civil society actors. We provide valuable insights into the power of locally-led adaptation and the transformative potential for building climate resilience at the grassroots level.”
This was underscored in the presentation of deep-dive case studies of locally-led adaptation actions in Anambra, Lagos and Ogun states by Dr. Chukwueloka Okeke, a Research Fellow at APRI, who showed that local communities were at the forefront of climate adaptation actions, but were mostly limited by lack of access to funds and relevant information to be effective and sustainable in their efforts.
A senior non-resident Fellow at APRI and Director of CCCD- AEFUNAI, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, stressed the importance of locally-led adaptation actions by noting that numerous ethnic groups and indigenous peoples of Nigeria had been carrying out adaptation actions for centuries, but the scale, extent, and efficiency of their actions had not been fully evaluated. “So, we need to make sure that we are really highlighting those local practices that can help and then attracting international funding to scale them up.”
The Director of the Department of Climate Change, Dr. (Mrs.) Iniobong Abiola-Awe, noted that Nigeria has made stringent efforts toward enhancing its adaptation action plans by developing several national action plans and policy frameworks such as the National Adaptation Framework with the objectives: “to clarify the country’s approach to its national adaptation process and serve as a reference point for bringing together various adaptation planning efforts from different sectors and scales of decision making”.
The Head of the Climate Change Programme at APRI,
Dr. Grace Mbungu, said: “Release of this report comes at a critical juncture, as the world grapples with the impacts of climate change. It serves as a call to action for policymakers, practitioners, civil society, and the international community to enhance support for locally-led climate change adaptation strategies”. She then commended the researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders who have dedicated their expertise and time to produce this comprehensive study.
Meanwhile, the event attracted a diverse audience, including representatives from government agencies and ministries, civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academia, youth, and private sector representatives. Participants highlighted the importance of developing synergies between all key stakeholders in a way that would enhance the delivery and implementation of the climate adaptation plans of Nigeria in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plan Framework, other national climate action policies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This comprehensive report delved into the critical issue of climate change adaptation and explores locally-led strategies and initiatives to address the challenges posed by climate change in Nigeria, identifying barriers and enabling factors for adaptation to inform the country’s Nationally-Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation.
The report, which is based on rigorous research and case studies conducted across various ecological zones of Nigeria, highlights the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and ecosystems. It sheds light on the importance of locally-led adaptation as a key approach to building resilience and safeguarding livelihoods in the face of climate-related risks.
The report also underscores the significance of placing local communities at the heart of climate change adaptation efforts.
During the event, speakers emphasised the importance of collaboration in climate change adaptation and the role of locally-led initiatives.
