RCE Ogun - 2022

Location

Ministry of Agriculture
Office of the Governor Ogun State
Nigeria
See map: Google Maps
NG
An Inclusive Approach to Mitigating Climate Change: A Report on RCE Ogun’s Participation in the 16th Conference of Youths (COY 16)
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
An Inclusive Approach to Mitigating Climate Change: A Report on RCE Ogun’s Participation in the 16th Conference of Youths (COY 16)
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Ogun
Contributing organization(s) : 
RCE Ogun
Covenant University,Ota
Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Lagos
Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture.
Association of Youths in Ota, Ogun State.
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
RCE Ogun
Organizational Affiliation: 
Covenant University, Ota,Ogun State.
E-mail: 
rceogun@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Format of project: 
PowerPoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Update
Web link: 
https://1drv.ms/p/s!AqbPrWyBvwo1gjhNxZksPsJHavGD
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
The national educational system shall be structured to develop the practice of self-learning. Government shall in this regard continue to encourage the establishment of Young Readers Clubs in schools.
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Education and training facilities shall continue to be expanded in response to social needs and made progressively accessible to all individuals to be afforded a more diversified and flexible choice.
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Nigeria
Location(s): 
Lagos, Ogun states
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Grassland
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Secondary, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
RCE Ogun is situated in Ogun State. Ogun State is one of the 36 States in Nigeria, presently located within the South-West geopolitical zone. The neighbouring States include Lagos State (to the South), Oyo and Osun States (to the North), Ondo State (to the East) and the Republic of Benin (to the West). Ogun State has a population of 3,728,098 inhabitants. It has a rich deposit of mineral resources such as limestone, granite, glass sand and kaolin. Presently, Ogun has the highest concentration of manufacturing companies including two of Africa’s largest cement factories: Lafarge Cement and Dangote Cement. Ogun State also has the highest number of universities in Nigeria. The indigenes of Ogun are predominately farmers and textile manufacturers (Tie and Dye/Adire).
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The sustainable development challenges in the area of this project addresses the effects of climate change in sub Saharan Africa, and Nigeria in particular, one of the greatest effects of climate change is food insecurity. This is because food production in Nigeria is mainly rain fed (dependent). Seventy percent of farms in Nigeria are operated on a small scale and with low technology. With a population of over 200 million people, a food crisis will plunge Nigeria and the entire West African region into a humanitarian crisis. This situation further strains the resilience of this region which is already threatened by poverty, youth unemployment and terrorism.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
July, 2021
Rationale: 
The impacts of climate change are global in nature with local effects that validate its reality. In Nigeria drought and flooding are the major effects of climate change recorded lately (Fourcade et al. 2019; Ayanlade 2017; Odjugo, 2009;). Farmlands and surrounding villages have become barren due to drought and advancing desertification. This has led to massive migration of herders in search of more fertile terrain from the North East towards the Greener Plateau and the Middle Belt Regions. The movement of Fulani herdsmen from the North to the South and Middle Belt has led to clashes with crop farmers resulting in death of hundreds (Ikhuoso, et al., 2020).
Furthermore, in southern Nigeria, climate change is also reflected in the massive flood. In 2012, houses, farms, properties and human beings were swept away by flood. No fewer than 5000 persons were affected and 60 houses destroyed in a windstorm which occurred in four states in the south -west region (NEMA, 2019).
Objectives: 
The objectives of this project was to assess the views of youths, citizens with disabilities and uneducated youths on the realities, effects and mitigation strategies. With a view to designing holistic, comprehensive and inclusive policies for mitigating climate change.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
To support the COY 16 initiative,RCE Ogun, Covenant University have collected 5000+ signatures, made 3 climate commitments, 3 visibility/promotional posts, 3 online informational sessions and have fully sponsored a delegate to participate in the 16th UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY16). The participants comprised of a diverse but inclusive youth group from different social classifications including secondary school students, undergraduates, postgraduate students, youths in employment, youths with disabilities and youths that are neither educated nor employed. A total of 362 youths participated in the survey aspect of the project. The project used questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, online promotion and information sessions to achieve its objectives.
Size of academic audience: 
5000
Results: 
The results of this project were
1. Awareness of the climate change impact on the food security of Nigeria.
2. An inclusive view of how to mitigate climate change from various youth groups in the community.
3. Compilation of RCE Ogun's climate change demands on policy makers and stakeholders to help mitigate climate change.
4. RCE Ogun's commitment to climate change to
i. Scale up supports for all forms of environmental stewardships particularly climate change awareness through formal and informal education beginning from 2022.
ii. Collaborate with the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) to support the dissemination of weather data in the local language of farmers dispersed all over our region beginning from 2022.
iii. Strengthen the capacity of youths to tackle climate change by championing climate science certificate and diploma courses for undergraduate students in Nigeria beginning from 2022.

Lessons learned: 
1. Awareness and sensitisation on nature-based solutions will help in adapting to climate change.
2. People with disabilities should be given a voice at all levels of decision making for climate change mitigation. No one can speak for them except themselves.
3. Youths constitute an enduring source of indigenous capacity for tackling climate change, but are more likely to commit to reducing their carbon foot print and acting responsibly towards mitigating climate change when their basic needs are met because survival for the average youth is of utmost priority than environmental stewardship.
Key messages: 
The time for Climate Action is now. We all share the responsibility of preserving our world for the future generations.RCE Ogun is committed to this course and we are open to ideas and partnerships in realising these goals, both on regional and national scales.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The COY 16 project gave birth to the initiative of establishing a green skills hub that would help equip youths to further the course of climate change mitigation in Africa and also solve the problem of unemployment while educating the community on climate change and its effects.
Funding: 
The project was funded by Covenant University , Ota in fulfilment of her commitment to climate change mitigation in Africa.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2022-07-11 at 4.47.36 PM.jpeg (217.24 KB) RCE Ogun's Visit to the Centre of People with Disablities (CCD), Lagos. RCE Ogun
RCE Ogun's Visit to the Ministry of Agriculture with the Cassava Value Chain Group
References and reference materials: 
PDF icon COY 16 ,Covenant University Global Statement Report .pdf
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Direct
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
Yes
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes