By: Bandin Glory Joseph
Across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, climate change is no longer a distant threat. In Benue State, rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, severe flooding, and erosion are reshaping how people farm, earn a living, and protect their families. For some, these changes create inconvenience, but for many, they create profound challenges that affect safety, livelihoods, and dignity. It was against this backdrop that a two-day climate resilience training took place on 4th and 5th December 2024 in Makurdi. Organized under the BRIDGE Project and implemented by the Crest Research and Development Institute (CRADI), the training brought together eighty community members, including farmers, pastoralists, traditional leaders, women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The training reinforced a vital message: climate change does not affect everyone equally, and true resilience cannot be built without inclusion.
The dialogue began with stories and lived experiences rather than slides and statistics. Elders recalled seasons that once followed predictable patterns but now seem to vanish with each passing year. Farmers described declining yields and rising costs that make it harder to support their families, while women shared how extreme heat has forced them to sleep outdoors, exposing themselves and their children to new dangers. One participant reflected, “Ten years ago our cold seasons were predictable. Now we sleep outside because of extreme heat, and that exposes our women and girls to danger.” These reflections made it clear that climate change is not only an environmental issue. It is social, economic, and deeply gendered, touching on safety, opportunity, and daily survival in ways that are too often overlooked.
A defining feature of the training was its strong focus on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion. Women, youth
, widows, and persons with disabilities were not merely present; they were heard, engaged, and empowered to shape solutions. One participant with a disability said, “We are happy to be included because most times we are neglected when opportunities come. Now that we have this knowledge, it will really help us, and we will step it down to others.” For widows and female farmers, the sessions were both practical and transformative. One widow explained, “I will share this training with all the groups I belong to, especially on dry-season farming. I wish I had received this earlier; erosion washed away almost half of my yam farm. Before, I planted only one crop, but now I know I can plant different crops on the same land so that if one fails, another can thrive.” These voices demonstrated that inclusion is not a symbolic gesture or charity. It is a practical necessity that strengthens resilience and ensures that no one is left behind.
The training went beyond awareness-raising to provide concrete strategies for adaptation. Lessons on crop diversification, erosion control, and dry-season farming equipped participants with knowledge they could immediately apply to protect their livelihoods and reduce risk. It became clear that resilience only works when everyone is included. Women manage household food systems and local knowledge, youth drive innovation and adaptation, and persons with disabilities contribute unique perspectives that often go unnoticed. Excluding any group weakens community resilience, while including everyone strengthens it.
The lessons from Makurdi are both urgent and inspiring. Climate resilience cannot succeed as a top-down exercise or a one-size-fits-all approach. It requires listening to those most affected, equipping them with knowledge and tools, and empowering them to act. As communities across Nigeria’s Middle Belt continue to face rising climate pressures, the path forward is clear. Everyone must have a voice, access to knowledge, and the ability to contribute to solutions. Inclusive climate action is not optional. It is essential for survival. The time to act is now, and the responsibility lies with all of us to ensure that no voice is left unheard and no community is left behind.
shared memories of how their fields and rivers once behaved. They described streams that no longer flow throughout the year and soils that respond differently to planting. Women spoke about the pressure these changes place on their homes, their farms and their ability to provide food. They explained how sudden dry spells, erosion and new pest outbreaks are stretching the resources of many households. Youth voiced concerns about what lies ahead for their generation. They spoke about extreme heat, water scarcity, flooding and land degradation that threaten both farming and the wider community. Although each group entered the room with different experiences, their concerns pointed to the same reality. Farming inputs are becoming too expensive. Water is harder to access. Road networks make it difficult to reach markets, and agricultural extension services are not consistent enough to support farmers as they adapt to new conditions. Yet, despite these shared difficulties, the atmosphere was hopeful rather than discouraged.
g, learning safer agricultural practices and mobilising other young people to protect the environment. These ideas flowed naturally because they were rooted in the community’s lived experience.
data collection process for the Collaboration Hub evaluation across Lagos and Kaduna was both a complex and rewarding experience. The programme, led by Girl Effect and Good Business, brings together diverse projects: Tailors as Agents of Change, Mothers & Daughters TV Show (Recipe for Success), SWAG Campus Theatre, and Blazing Boots Comic to shift gender norms through creative and community-driven approaches. As the lead evaluation coordinator, I was responsible for ensuring that every element of the fieldwork- tool design, recruitment, training, logistics, and partner engagement came together seamlessly to deliver credible insights.
k, the experience underscored just how complex yet rewarding evaluations can be. Coordinating across multiple projects, states, partners, and communities required constant problem-solving and adaptation. Yet, what stands out most for me is the professionalism and resilience of the field team, the first majority-female evaluation team at CRADI. Their competence, commitment, and ability to navigate difficult terrains and cultural dynamics ensured that we not only met our targets but also upheld the integrity of the evaluation process.
by Dr. Jeji Williams, Chief of Staff to the Governor, delivered a stirring address, framing peace as the essential bedrock of all progress. “This launch is not just a ceremonial event; it is a bold declaration of our political will,” he stated. He powerfully expanded the definition of peace, noting that it is “the presence of justice, opportunity, and equity. It gives life to development, attracts investment, and allows our children to go to school without fear.”
al and reproductive health outcomes. The project spanned across Lagos and Kaduna states, weaving together innovative strategies like mother-daughter TV cooking shows, youth-led theater performances, and even football-them
