From Abel Leonard, Lafia
It was drama in Lafia as secondary school students armed with placards stormed key ministries in Nasarawa State, demanding government action to scale up Climate Justice Clubs across schools. The students, backed by Beacon Youth Initiative (BYI) and Education as a Vaccine (EVA) under the African Activists for Climate Justice Project, insisted that budgetary provisions, timely funding, and teacher training must be institutionalized to sustain the fight against climate change.
The advocacy drive, held on Tuesday which saw the students engage critical decision-makers, calling for sustainability, ownership, and scaling up of climate education across the state.
Executive Director of Beacon Youth Initiative and State Coordinator of the Nasarawa Network on Environment and Climate Change Justice, Envoh Emmanuel Okolo, said the initiative was designed to deepen young people’s participation in climate resilience.
“We have already established Climate Justice Clubs in three schools, but our call is for the state government to scale up this program across all secondary schools. The students are eager, but we need government commitment, budgetary allocations, and timely release of funds to sustain and expand this intervention,” Okolo declared.
Placards carried by the students had bold inscriptions such as: “Increase and timely release of climate change funding to sustain and expand Climate Justice Clubs in schools,” “Institutionalize teacher training on climate change education,” and “Promote inclusion of women, girls and persons with disabilities in climate action.”
At the Ministry Science and Technology, Commissioner Gabriel Agbashi applauded the effort, stressing the urgency of equipping young people with the knowledge to combat climate change.
“Climate change is affecting our ecosystem and food systems. Educating students through these clubs will prepare them to respond with the right solutions. Beyond this, we must work towards mainstreaming climate change studies into the school curriculum,” he said.
Similarly, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Hussaini Usman Babayayi, , who represented Commissioner Princess Margaret Elayo, pledged collaboration with the initiative.
“Climate change is real and affects everyone. We commend Beacon Youth Initiative for engaging young people. As a ministry, we are ready to partner with you and support the expansion of these clubs to all local governments in the state,” Hassan assured.
Also speaking, Mrs. Larai Jacob Saiko, Director of Admin and Supply at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, promised that the advocacy would be taken beyond Lafia.
“We will work to ensure this project does not stop in Lafia. The Commissioner is committed to supporting your request so that more schools and communities benefit,” she said.
For the students, the Climate Justice Club is already yielding results. Eugenia Felix, a student of Government Secondary School, Lafia One, told our correspondent that the lessons have changed her lifestyle and perception of climate change.
“This club is really good, and we’ve come to this ministry so they can assist us, so that this club will reach many people who are not aware of it. With the help of this club, I’ve learned a lot, and I now apply it to my life. I discovered it is very good,” she said.
The advocacy emphasized the adoption of the “Understanding Climate Change” handbook for students, institutionalization of teacher training on climate education, and promotion of smart farming practices as strategies to build resilience against climate shocks.
With commitments secured from commissioners and permanent secretaries, the students and advocacy groups expressed optimism that the Nasarawa State Government would take practical steps to institutionalise Climate Justice Clubs and mainstream climate education across all secondary schools.