Stakeholders at the Inception and Discovery Meeting of the Climate Equity Project have emphasized the importance of sharing community-based experiences to address the real impacts of climate change in Nigeria.
The event, titled “Amplifying Community Voices of Climate Change in Nigeria,” was held on Monday in Ibadan. It was organised by the Youth Agroecological for Restoration Network (YARN), in collaboration with Ushahidi and NETHOPE.
The Executive Director of YARN, Opeyemi Elujulo said the initiative aims to ensure that grassroots voices—especially those most affected—are reflected in climate data and policy discussions.
“We brought stakeholders together to co-create what climate solutions should look like and to chart a way forward to ensure these community voices are heard and included in the process,” Elujulo said.
Speaking at the event, a representative of Kenya-based Ushahidi, Joseph Kirai said the engagement was insightful, especially as participants shared personal stories of climate change impacts.
“One of the challenges is that we often rely solely on satellite data, without integrating the lived experiences of people on the ground,” Kirai said.
He noted that the project will gather data from 5,000 individuals across three states—Oyo, Osun, and Ondo—to help drive more informed and locally relevant decisions.
Aminat Adebayo, representing NETHOPE, explained that the project will highlight the voices of vulnerable groups and inform the development of community-focused adaptation toolkits.
She said the collected data would support the design of actionable climate adaptation plans that improve community resilience.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said the government has been engaging farmers on climate adaptation strategies.
Represented by Mrs. Abimbola Agbaje from the ministry’s Data Collection Department, he noted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) trained farmers earlier this year to help them cope with climate risks.
“There’s a forecast of a 40-day drought in Oyo State between mid-July and August,” he warned. “We have advised farmers to plant in phases to minimise potential losses.”
Olaleye also urged farmers to insure their ventures with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) to protect against climate-related losses.
In his remarks, Oyo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ṣeun Ashamu, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to awareness and climate solutions. Represented by Mrs. Ajibade Adepoju of the Pollution Department, he said the state would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to reduce the impacts of climate change.
