By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
International Alert Nigeria on Thursday engaged the university communities in Benue State to deepen young people’s understanding of the link between climate change and violent conflict to strengthen their participation in peacebuilding and policy processes.
The engagement, held under the Father Moses Adasu University Outreach for Conflict and Climate Change Awareness and Sensitisation programme, is being implemented through the Powering Peace through Climate Action (PPCA) Project in partnership with JirehDoo Foundation and the Platform for Youth in Climate Action and Peacebuilding (PAYCAaP).
Senior Project Officer of International Alert Nigeria, Kenkeng Ati, said during the engagement that the programme aimed at equipping students, researchers and youth leaders with knowledge and practical tools to understand climate-related risks, prevent conflict and contribute to building resilient communities.
Ati said the initiative was designed to provide university communities with a platform to examine how climate change was affecting peace and security in Benue.
He noted that climate-related challenges, including prolonged drought, irregular rainfall and flooding, were intensifying competition over land, water and grazing resources, thereby contributing to tensions among farmers, pastoralists and fishing communities.
He said the consequences included loss of livelihoods, displacement and recurring violence in affected communities, citing Egba and Ologba in Agatu Local Government Area as examples.
According to him, the PPCA Project seeks to address the climate-conflict nexus by promoting inclusive and conflict-sensitive climate adaptation, strengthening community resilience and encouraging social cohesion and cooperation among divided groups.
Ati said the initiative would also create opportunities for young people to contribute to policy discussions and strengthen collaboration between academia and practitioners working in climate action and peacebuilding.
Earlier, Coordinator of PAYCAaP, Ibrahim Joseph Asongu, said the programme was designed to empower young people to take leadership in addressing the twin challenges of climate change and peacebuilding.
Asongu, speaking at the outreach, described the theme, “Empowering Youths for Climate Peace and Resilience,” as a call for young people to move beyond awareness to action.
He said the programme would equip youths with the knowledge, networks and tools needed to turn climate and peacebuilding challenges into opportunities for leadership, innovation and resilience.
According to him, the engagement was also intended to build bridges between academia and practice, local realities and global solutions, as well as between generations.
He urged participants to embrace dialogue, collaboration and action in order to contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Meanwhile, the sessions included expert presentations, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions, with participants identifying context-specific challenges and develop policy recommendations.
