Women in Akwa Ibom State have been urged to take an active role in protecting the environment and promoting climate justice as part of efforts to address the growing challenges of climate change.
The call was made during a climate change enlightenment seminar, organised by the Global Greengrants Fund and Oilwatch Africa in collaboration with Shepriesthood International Ministry Inc.
The event was held at the Afaha Etok Village Hall in Uyo, with the theme: “Women for Climate Justice: Strengthening Grassroots Resistance to Extractive Activities in Africa.”
Speaking at the event, the President of Shepriesthood International Ministry Inc., Archbishop Emilia Samuel, encouraged participants to take the knowledge gained from the seminar seriously and apply it in their daily lives.
She said the programme was designed to equip women with practical knowledge on climate change, its impact on the environment, and the important role they can play in protecting their communities.
“The essence of this programme is to help women understand the effects of climate change and how to prevent environmental degradation. If we are dumping refuse in gutters, we should stop.
“If we are farming on waterways or blocking drainage channels, we must desist. We should also educate others who are not here on how to preserve our environment,” she said.
Archbishop Samuel also encouraged women to support tree-planting initiatives by urging their husbands and family members to plant more trees around their homes.
“We should encourage our husbands to plant trees around where we live because they produce oxygen, improve air quality, and help preserve our environment,” she added.
Delivering the keynote address, medical physiologist Dr. Michael Saviour described climate change as a long-term alteration in weather patterns caused largely by increased emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
He noted that women are among the most vulnerable groups affected by climate change because of their central role in ensuring the survival and well-being of their families.
“People often ask why discussions about climate change focus so much on women. The answer is simple, women play a critical role in ensuring that families survive during environmental and climate-related challenges,” he said.
Dr. Saviour identified the major impacts of climate change on women as heat stress, food insecurity and malnutrition, water scarcity, the increased spread of diseases, mental health challenges, and maternal and reproductive health risks.
He stressed the importance of involving women in community decision-making processes, noting that their experiences in managing households during environmental crises make their contributions invaluable.
“Women should be actively involved in community decision-making because they understand the daily realities of managing households during environmental challenges,” he said.
Beyond climate education, participants also received practical training on ginger cultivation, harvesting, processing, and storage as a means of promoting sustainable livelihoods.
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They were further encouraged to form cooperative societies to improve their access to loans and other financial support from government agencies and financial institutions.
Participants expressed appreciation to the organisers for providing the training, describing it as timely and impactful.
They appealed for similar programmes to be sustained and extended to more communities across the state.
“We have learned so much from this programme today. We sincerely thank the Global Greengrants Fund, Oilwatch Africa, and Shepriesthood International Ministry Inc. for this opportunity. ”
We pray that God will bless them and enable them to continue organising programmes like this for women in the future,” one participant said.
