In a bid to tackle environmental degradation impacting negatively on communities in Kaduna state, Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG), in partnership with the Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE) has launched a transformative project aimed at empowering women and advancing sustainable climate governance.

Executive Director Bridge that Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG), Gloria Kasang Bulus, who dropped the hint in Kaduna during the week, regretted that environmental disasters and shocks have deepened poverty and eco-anxiety among women who remain grossly under-represented in decision-making.

The project is tagged “Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative”

While revealing that the project would focus on three Local Government Areas of Zaria, Chikun, and Zango Kataf, Ms Bulus stated that reports from these three local councils were troubling because “they show high levels of environmental degradation, food insecurity and limited female representation in governance structures”

“Kaduna state faces a troubling mix of environmental, social, and economic challenges.

From extensive deforestation and desertification to resource shortages and ecosystem breakdowns, the impacts of climate change have become severe. A report by Global Forest Watch shows that in 2023 alone, the state lost over 5,400 hectares of natural forest, leading to 1.94 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions.
These environmental shocks have worsened poverty and eco-anxiety, especially among women who are disproportionately affected but remain underrepresented in decision-making. Although women play important roles in agriculture, small businesses, and household sustainability, they often lack access to platforms and resources that could help them influence climate policies and local development strategies.

The project focuses on LGAs with some of the worst environmental records:

• Zaria LGA suffers from massive vegetation loss due to fuelwood consumption, which accounts for nearly 40% of its deforestation. According to satellite data from 1973 to 2014, over 80% of vegetation in the area has been degraded, highlighting the urgent need for clean energy alternatives and community-led environmental restoration (Global Forest Watch).
• Zango Kataf LGA faces challenges from erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and soil degradation. Women and internally displaced persons are especially vulnerable to water shortages and land conflicts, worsened by deforestation caused by agricultural practices.
• Chikun LGA, especially communities like Kakau Daji, is experiencing rapid environmental decline due to firewood collection and industrial pollution from nearby petrochemical plants. The ecosystem has suffered from biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and toxic emissions.

With women at the forefront
focusing on gender inclusion and environmental sustainability, the project aims to strengthen women-led coalitions by improving their policy advocacy skills, providing them with energy-efficient cookstoves, and developing a climate action plan that considers gender and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in line with the Kaduna State Climate Change Policy.

“Women are central to community life. They manage natural resources, care for households, and make significant contributions to the economy.

“However, they still face marginalization in important decisions about the environment and development. By providing women with advocacy tools and encouraging cooperation among policymakers, civil society, and the private sector, the project aims to change this situation”, Bulus volunteered.

According to her, the goals of the initiative is built around four core objectives:

*Enhancing Policy Advocacy Capacity – Training women’s groups to participate in governance structures and advocate for inclusive climate strategies.

*Developing Inclusive Climate Action Plans – Ensuring that gender and PWD perspectives are prioritized in environmental policies.

*Promoting Climate Adaptation – Implementing grassroots solutions like reforestation, clean energy use, and climate-smart agriculture.

*Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration – Fostering collaboration among women’s coalitions, government agencies, and environmental stakeholders.

She assured that her organization remains determined to build sustainable communities by removing barriers to basic rights of vulnerable populations.

The organization has also concluded preparations to plant 15,000 trees in the state. To date, over three thousand (3000) economic and forest trees have been planted in Chikun LGA and its environs.

She further disclosed:
“Journalists in Kaduna will also receive training to enhance their skills in effective writing and reporting on climate change-related issues.

“The Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) Project supports coalitions that influence governments to address climate and governance issues affecting the poorest and most vulnerable communities. It aims to boost state government revenue from internal sources, integrate climate actions into state policy, planning, and budgets, and enhance election delivery and credibility.

The program, she stated, is being carried out in Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa in northwestern Nigeria, with focused strategic engagement at both federal and regional levels.

 The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has called for a lasting solution to eradicate environmental pollution caused by plastic wastes.

In her message to mark the year 2025 World Environment Day, with the theme ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, in Abuja on Thursday, the first lady also advised people to curtail the way they consume food and drinks packaged in plastics.

“I join millions of Nigerians and the world in calling for urgent and united action to safeguard our environment.

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, affecting our health, our environment, and our future.

“In Nigeria, we must rise to this challenge by changing how we consume packaged food items and how we dispose of plastic containers and bags.

“I particularly want to speak to our youths, the leaders of tomorrow, be it in schools or within our neighborhoods, each of you has a role to play in creating a cleaner, healthier and greener Nigeria,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu had recently promised to introduce environmental solutions clubs to schools through her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

“I want to use this opportunity to introduce our students to two programmes that the RHI will be launching soon.

“First is the Environment Club for Secondary School Students and the Environment Society for Students in Tertiary institutions nationwide to help us clean up our environment and grow more trees.

“Second is the “Flow with Confidence” for our girls in rural communities.

“This programme is to provide one year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads to our adolescent girls to support them to remain in school during their menstrual cycle,” She said.

NAN further reports that some of the functions of RHI environmental clubs in schools would include raising environmental awareness; fostering social and life skills; empowering students to take action and promoting sustainable behaviours.

The clubs can also enhance critical thinking and creativity, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen communities.

The club would encourage students to participate in various environmental projects, like tree planting, recycling, and garden projects, gaining practical experience and deeper understanding.(NAN))

The Federal Government and partners have been urged to take decisive action to protect and restore rangelands, safeguard pastoralist communities’ livelihoods, and enhance climate resilience in dryland regions.

The call was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the 5th International Conference on Drylands.

The conference, themed ‘Promoting Sustainability and Resilience of Rangelands: Present and Future Outlooks’, was organised by the Centre for Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University in Kano and took place from May 6 to 8, 2025.

The three-day conference brought together over 300 participants, including scientists, researchers, policymakers, development partners, and private sector representatives.

The articipants urged governments to develop and implement comprehensive, participatory, and evidence-based legal frameworks prioritizing sustainable rangeland management.

These frameworks should recognise, protect, and support traditional knowledge and practices of pastoralists, ensuring equitable access to land and natural resources.

Secure land tenure and fair resource governance are crucial for promoting peaceful coexistence and preventing land-use conflicts.

The conference recognised the critical role of women and youths from pastoralist communities in driving resilience and sustainability.

The conference also called for increased investment in capacity building, active participation in decision-making processes, and support for income-generating opportunities and sustainable resource development projects.

The conference emphasised the need to scale up public and private sector investments in climate change adaptation strategies, sustainable land management technologies, and diversified livelihood initiatives.

These investments should be complemented by demand-driven research and the promotion of innovations that integrate indigenous knowledge with modern scientific approaches.

The conference urged international development partners and organisations to align their resources with the conference outcomes and enhance regional and global cooperation, particularly on transboundary issues.

The participants also advocated deeper engagement with global initiatives such as the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) and the Africa Soil Initiative.

The conference concluded that the alarming degradation of rangelands, threats to pastoralist livelihoods, and fragility of dryland ecosystems demand urgent, collaborative, and sustained action.

The participants emphasised that achieving healthy rangelands was key to food security, ecological balance, and peaceful coexistence.

The conference brought together participants from 11 African countries, 13 Nigerian states, 17 academic institutions, and several international organisations.

It created a rich platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and regional collaboration.( NAN)