The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has declared that women will play a crucial role in the success of the federal government’s climate change agenda and must therefore be carried along in every stage of the planning and implementation process.
This she said, is because women are not only victims of climate change, but are key solution providers in combating its impacts.
The minister spoke at the weekend, during a meeting with the Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, who also highlighted the critical link between climate change and its impact on women.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media, Mr. Jonathan Eze, the minister emphasised that climate change is a priority issue for the ministry.
She noted that women must be involved in every stage of climate change action plan and implementation.
“Women are key stakeholders in the fight against climate change. We must ensure that their voices are heard, and their unique perspectives are incorporated into national climate strategies,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
She assured that the ministry is committed to working with the National Council on Climate Change, to empower women as agents of change in building a more sustainable and climate-resilient Nigeria.
Both parties agreed on the need to strengthen partnerships to ensure that women are not only protected from the adverse impacts of climate change, but are also empowered to contribute to sustainable climate solution.
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Dr. Maduekwe stressed that women are among the most affected by climate-related challenges, particularly in rural areas where they rely heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods.
“Climate change affects women disproportionately, but it also presents an opportunity for women to be at the forefront of sustainable solutions. Women are natural resource managers, caregivers, and community leaders.
“They have the capacity to drive climate resilience initiatives if given the necessary support and resources,” Dr. Maduekwe stated.
She called for increased collaboration between the National Council on Climate Change and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to develop gender-responsive climate policies and programmes that will empower women to lead climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
