LEGASI Trains Women on Climate Change Advocacy in Plateau State

Jos, Plateau State – Ladies Empowerment Goals and Support Initiative (LEGASI), with funding from Peace Direct organized an advocacy training for women from three local government areas in Plateau State.

The event, which took place on March 10, 2025, at the Mountain View Guest House in Jos, aimed to create awareness on the effects of climate change and empower women to become major drivers of change in their communities.

With the theme “Advocating Pathways to Cushion the Effects of Climate Change on Farmers and Herders in Riyom, Mangu, and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau State: Women as Major Drivers,” the training brought together women from Riyom, Mangu, and Bassa local government areas.

Plateau State faces a convergence of climate challenges such as erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and environmental degradation. These conditions intensify resource competition between farmers and herders.

Lola Raji, Director of Fort Initiative, emphasized the importance of creating awareness on the effects of climate change, particularly on farmers and herders in the region.

Summaya Abubakar, a co-facilitator and the Executive Director of Muryar Fulani Initiative, introduced the event, setting the tone for the discussions that followed.

Representatives from the three local government areas, including Nanchin Denis from Mangu, Kadija Abubakar from Bassa, and Deborah Emmanuel from Riyom, expressed their gratitude for the training and pledged to spread the message in their respective communities.

The outcomes of the meeting is to advocate for:

1. Management of Farm Resources and Communal Tolerance: Such resources could include micro-finance support to aid structures for community preservation mechanisms of farm produce by smallholder farmers and preparing these for larger markets through farm merchants. Also, to note peaceful coexistence is essential to ensure the sustainability of any form of innovative development.
2. Promoting empathy and community-based conflict resolution: This was highlighted as an essential component of fostering peaceful coexistence.
   Urban farming was also discussed as a potential method to diversify agricultural activities and create opportunities for income generation in the face of changing weather patterns.

3.Climatic Predictability and Informed Decision-Making: Participants called for greater access to climate information, which would help farmers and herders make better decisions regarding planting, harvesting, and migration patterns. This could include the use of mobile apps, community-based forecasting systems, and improved weather services.

4.Tree Planting and Environmental Restoration: Participants emphasized the importance of revisiting Nigeria’s tree-planting laws, which require individuals to plant two trees for every one that is cut down. They suggested that this policy be reinvigorated, with community-led tree-planting initiatives becoming a central part of local climate action strategies. Cross-breeding Cattle for Improved Yield: Recognizing the challenges faced by herders due to dwindling grazing lands, the group advocated for research into cross-breeding cattle to improve milk and meat yields. This could help reduce the number of animals required for grazing, easing pressure on land and water resources.

5.Youth Employment and Economic Alternatives: This serves as a sustainable driver to ensure knowledge transfer and active participation of a vibrant portion of the Nigerian population. In the long term, it promotes an established network for engaging indigenous and scientific climate information ensuring local communities have a higher preparedness in times of forecasted climatic disasters.
Empowering women as major drivers of adaptation is not merely a gender equity issue – it’s an essential strategy for community resilience in the face of climate change. When women lead, the pathways reflexively embrace the reality of local cultures, resource limitations, and environmental shifts, providing a solid foundation for sustainable progress. By integrating capacity building, financial inclusion, policy advocacy, and knowledge exchange, stakeholders can build robust systems that cushion the impacts of climate change while honoring the inherent strengths of local communities in Riyom, Mangu, and Bassa.
The training is a significant step towards empowering women to take action against climate change and promoting sustainable development in Plateau State.
This is a continued commitment through the phase two of Engaging Grassroot Actors for Growth and Empowerment (EnGAGE) Project funded by Peace Direct.