Experts want school children and young people to be engaged in capacity building and empowerment, aimed at amplifying environmental sustainability of climate change action that would encompass both mitigation and adaptation in Nigeria.

They also stated that the voices of children and youth must be acknowledged and opportunities given to them to become climate change ambassadors, as they have ideas and manifestos to address the climate crisis and emergency.

Dr. Deborah Ayodele-Olajire of the University of Ibadan, who spoke at the Stakeholders’ Climate Change Knowledge Exchange Workshop/ Art Exhibition in Abuja, said they intend to engage these groups from diverse communities in activities supporting climate action in the United Kingdom, Kenya and Nigeria.

Ayodele-Olajire also explained that the project is based on ‘activism’, a blend of art that fosters a mutually stimulating dialogue between creators and audiences, promoting social interactions and decisions in response to the climate emergency.

She stressed that their creative expressions and manifestos merit recognition on global platforms, such as the forthcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP), to be held later in the year in Brazil.

Also speaking, Dr. Alison Fox of The Open University, United Kingdom, said they have researched the professional learning in educational contexts, saying young people must be knowledgeable by contributing to addressing the climate change crisis generally.

On his part, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Michael Etiba, commended the organisers of the workshop, saying it is timely and would go a long way in promoting climate change action, such as the country’s adaptation and mitigation programmes.

Speaking on Connecting Communities and Heritages Against Climate Change: Art for Action, Director, Department of Climate Change, Dr. Iniobong Abiola Awe, said they are committed to supporting youth-led environmental initiatives and encouraging green entrepreneurship by creating platforms where innovation can scale and succeed.

Awe explained that from the local clean-up, they will drive to nationwide climate marches, from school gardens to technologically-driven green solutions.