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| Conversation with a Policymaker at the 2024 Future of Health Youth Pre-Conference |
By Marire Adebanjo
In recent years, Nigeria’s weather patterns have shifted dramatically. Harmattan, once known for its dry, cool air, barely arrives or feels weaker, while the country endures unrelenting heat year-round. These changes are not just natural occurrences: they reflect the impact of human behavior on the environment. Actions like deforestation, carbon emissions from vehicles and industries, and waste mismanagement have disrupted the climate, contributing to hotter temperatures and unpredictable weather. These changes have implications for health, including the emergence or resurgence of infectious disease pathogens and the diseases they carry.
The global climate outlook is more uncertain than ever, presenting unprecedented challenges for continents, communities, and ecosystems. This urgency to address climate issues was the focus of a recent conversation with a policymaker during the Youth Pre-Conference of the 2024 Future of Health Conference.
The conversation featured insights from various voices in climate action whose work emphasizes youth engagement and the need for cross-sector support to address Nigeria’s unique climate challenges.
Panelists
Chris Ngwodo – Director General, Office For Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE)
Israel Olaniran – Co-Founder/Lead Volunteer, Youth For Sustainable Development Action Initiative
Aminat Adebayo – Climate And Health Sustainability Expert
Anne Dirkling – Vice President of WonderWoman Nigeria
Azeez Abubakar – Founder Of Sustainable Solutions For Green Growth
Understanding Climate Change as an Existential Crisis
Chris Ngwodo framed climate change as an existential crisis for Nigeria. He highlighted visible impacts, particularly in northern Nigeria, where desertification is rapidly advancing due to higher temperatures and diminishing water resources. This environmental shift has intensified challenges like waterborne diseases, forced migration, and resource scarcity, especially in urban centres such as Lagos, where flooding has contributed to cholera outbreaks. He emphasized the severe impact of climate change on food security, specifically on child malnutrition, which threatens community stability and well-being.
A compelling comparison underscored his points: in the past decade, climate-induced floods have displaced over five million Nigerians, a number greater than the population of Botswana. This massive displacement exacerbates multidimensional poverty and fuels competition for scarce resources, leading to increased tensions. Ngwodo’s takeaway was clear—climate change is not an abstract problem: it has immediate and life-altering implications for millions.
Empowering Nigeria’s Youth for a Sustainable Future
The conversation then shifted to youth empowerment. Israel Olaniran called attention to the critical need for youth involvement in Nigeria’s climate resilience. He emphasized that youth will face the direct consequences of today’s policies, making their involvement in climate action essential.
Expressing frustration over limited institutional and financial support for youth-led climate solutions, Olaniran asked Ngwodo how policymakers could bridge these gaps. Ngwodo acknowledged that Nigeria’s young innovators must be empowered through collaboration and resources. With 63% of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, he stressed, only a government-supported environment can help youth-led projects thrive and counteract climate vulnerabilities.
The Role of Collaboration in Building Resilience
Panelists agreed that resilience requires collective action. Aminat Adebayo underscored the importance of public and private sector collaboration to pool resources and mitigate climate effects.
Echoing Adebayo’s call for collaboration, Anne Dirkling stressed the vital role of women in climate adaptation. She advocated for policies that engage marginalized groups in decision-making, which is essential for creating inclusive, sustainable solutions.
Key Takeaway
Nigeria’s climate future relies on resilience, youth and women engagement, and institutional support. Policymakers, advocates, and citizens must come together to tackle climate change’s complex challenges. By providing resources, fostering collaboration, and empowering youth to lead initiatives, Nigeria can build a resilient and equitable future.
This is a future we aspire for at Shades of Us.
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