A recent press release from the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) revealed that floods have uprooted 650,000 Nigerian children, positioning the country as the second most affected globally by climate change impacts on children.
The displacement, spanning from 2016 to 2023, coincided with the 2023 World Children’s Day.
UNICEF highlighted that over 110 million Nigerian children are now at risk due to the escalating effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and severe storms.
Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, stressed the need for a swift and inclusive response, particularly focusing on the needs of vulnerable populations such as children and women in decision-making and implementation.
Christian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of providing a platform for children to express their concerns about climate change, shaping a collective path toward a sustainable future.
To address these challenges, stakeholders in education, the environment, media, and relevant organizations gathered at Evolution Hotel, Gombe, for the launch of the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) in Nigeria on World Children’s Day.
The event, streamed live by UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, outlined key climate risks to children and presented multi-sectoral climate actions planned for Nigeria from 2023 to 2027.
Notable attendees included UNICEF officials, Gombe’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, and representatives from the Project Coordinator of Agro-Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL), as well as journalists and advocates for peace.
Following the launch, an inter-school quiz competition on climate change was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Gombe State Ministry of Education, ACReSAL, and Pathway to Peace DW Academia.
Government Girls Mega College, Gombe, secured the first position, while Government Day Secondary School, Gandu, and Government Day Secondary School, Gombe, claimed second and third places, respectively.