In a historic move to involve young people in the discourse on climate change and agriculture, Jigawa State on May 15 hosted its first youth summit themed “Quest for Climate-Smart, Productive, Profitable and Sustainable Farming Systems in Jigawa State.”
The one-day event, held in Dutse, was organised by the Green and Environmental Project Initiative (GEPI), a civil society organisation, with support from the Jigawa State Government.
Comrade Ahmed Ilallah, GEPI’s State Lead, described the summit as “historic,” noting that it brought together young farmers, government officials, and stakeholders from across the state to chart a path for sustainable agricultural development.
“Our primary aim is to educate our young and existing farmers about climate-smart practices and align them with the government’s agricultural transformation agenda,” Ilallah said. “We want to build awareness of adaptive methods and systems that can withstand the growing threats of climate change.”
The summit was declared open by Governor Umar Namadi, represented by his Technical Assistant on Agriculture, Dr. Saifullahi Umar, who emphasized the numerous opportunities available under the state’s agricultural transformation initiative.
Participants were also treated to a series of expert-led presentations, including:
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“Understanding Jigawa State Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda for Greater Jigawa” – Dr. Saifullahi Umar
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“Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Food Security” – Prof. Usman Haruna, Federal University, Dutse
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“Assessing Agricultural Potentials and Financing to Improve Agriculture in Jigawa State” – Muhammad Auwal
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“The Future of Agriculture and Exploring Climate-Smart Farming Techniques” – Dr. Isma’ila Ibrahim, Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa
The summit concluded with a call for increased collaboration between government agencies, academia, civil society organisations, and the farming community to ensure a resilient and sustainable agricultural future for Jigawa state.
