By Oyeyemi Abolade
Stakeholders have called for greater inclusion of rural communities in Nigeria’s climate action efforts, warning that leaving them behind could undermine the country’s ability to tackle the worsening impacts of climate change.
The issue was discussed on Thursday, April 17, in Abuja during the unveiling of the Nigeria Climate Impact Outlook, organised by the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC) in collaboration with Connected Development (CODE), the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), and the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP).
The event took place as Nigeria faces growing climate challenges, including extreme weather events, widespread flooding, and an urgent need to transition to cleaner energy sources.
Experts at the forum called for immediate action to bridge the disconnect between national climate policies and the lived realities of grassroots communities.
According to the report, if emissions continue at current rates, 72 percent of Nigeria—expected to be home to 300 million people by 2070—will experience annual temperatures of 29 degrees Celsius or higher. This would place Nigeria second only to India in the number of people exposed to such extreme heat.
Speaking at the event, Bankole Oloruntoba, CEO of NCIC, called for urgent collaboration among stakeholders and policymakers to develop effective responses to climate change impacts in the country.
Also speaking, Sanna Selin, Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, highlighted Finland’s commitment to climate justice and inclusive policy making, urging Nigeria to learn from their experience.
“A green transition cannot succeed if it increases inequality or leaves parts of the population behind. Finland’s transition to over 90% fossil-free electricity is grounded not only in innovation but in equity. We have learned that climate action must go hand in hand with economic competitiveness and social fairness. Our policies address emissions but also prioritise sustainable resource use and circular economy principles,” she added.
She further stressed that Africa must not be seen only through a lens of vulnerability but as a key player in the global climate conversation not because of its problems, but because of the solutions it offers.
As discussions moved from challenges to solutions, participants shared different insights. Yusuf Tanimu, a climate advocate, emphasised the need to integrate climate messages within spiritual spaces, given Nigeria’s strong religious identity where over 90 percent of citizens affiliate with a faith.
“A study by the Yale Institute showed that in developing countries — especially in Central America — less than 40 percent of the population understands climate science. In Nigeria, that number is likely even lower,” Tanimu said.
To bridge this gap, Yusuf and his team launched the Interfaith Climate Change Project, leveraging mosques, churches, and other faith-based platforms to promote sustainability in ways people can easily relate to.
“We used sermons, morning devotionals, and religious gatherings to make climate issues relatable. It worked. People began connecting sustainability to their daily lives,” he shared.
Participants at the forum stressed the need for stronger engagement with communities, the establishment of mechanisms to ensure grassroots inclusion, and deeper collaboration between policymakers and non-state actors.
