650,000 children have been displaced by floods in Nigeria, making it the second most vulnerable worldwide in terms of children’s exposure to climate change faces severe challenges.
The alarming displacement of children by floods occurred between 2016 and 2023.
This was contained in a press release by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), issued to journalists on Monday as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark 2023 World Children’s Day (WCD) marked every November 20.
This year’s focuses on a Nationwide Celebration of Child Rights and Climate Change Awareness
UNICEF says over 110 million Nigerian children are at risk, having confronted the harsh realities of rising temperatures, flooding, drought, and severe storm.
“As one of the countries that suffers the greatest exposure to adverse climate impacts, Nigeria’s response to climate change must be swift and holistic, accounting for the needs of vulnerable people, including children and women, at the decision-making level, as well as in the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan” Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General – National Council on Climate Change, says.
“This celebration is a crucial platform for our children, the most affected by climate change, to voice their concerns and experiences. Their input is essential in shaping our collective path towards a sustainable and resilient future.” Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, said.
“This celebration is a crucial platform for our children, the most affected by climate change, to voice their concerns and experiences. Their input is essential in shaping our collective path towards a sustainable and resilient future.” Said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria
Meanwhile, stakeholders in education, environment sectors as well as media practitioners and relevant organisations converged on Evolution hotel, Gombe, on Monday for the launch of the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) in Nigeria commemorate the 2023 World Children’s Day.
UNICEF Bauchi Field Office streamed the launch live in Gombe state with a Nationwide Celebration of Child Rights and Climate Change Awareness Abuja, Nigeria
The launch highlighted key climate risks to children and provided an overview of the multi-sectoral climate mitigation and adaptation actions that UNICEF intends to implement in Nigeria from 2023–2027.
The occasion was attended by the Officer- in- charge of UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, Dr Clement Adams, Gombe Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, the Project Coordinator of Agro-Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL), Ambassador Sani Adamu Jauro.
Other stakeholders who attended the launch in Gombe were veteran journalists Farida Muhammad Dunemia, Alhaji Usman Shehu, Alhaji Aliyu Ardo and others from Pathway to Peace DW Academia.
After the launch, an inter-school quiz competition on climate change organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Gombe State ministry of Education, ACReSAL and Pathway to Peace DW Academia.
Declaring the completion open, the Commissioner charged the students to see the inter-school quiz competition as avenue to learn about climate commended UNICEF for the launch of CLAC and also coming up with the idea inter-school competition on climate change.
Maigari called for the need to sustain CLAC and other interventions for children in order to leave a lasting legacy.
Government Girls Mega College, Gombe emerged first in the inter-school competition while Government Day Secondary School, Gandu and Government Day Secondary School, Gombe emerged second and third, respectively.