Governor Umaru Bago Advocates for Improved Climate Education to combat Climate Change.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has identified the lack of education on climate change issues as a significant barrier to addressing this global challenge.
He made this statement during a visit from a delegation of the Greening Education Partnership (GEP) at the Government House in Minna.
Governor Bago emphasized that climate change has been a priority for his administration since its inception.However, he noted that the growing concerns related to climate change cannot be effectively tackled when people lack the necessary knowledge on the actions needed.
He commended the Greening Education Partnership as a commendable initiative and expressed confidence that its collaboration with Niger State, particularly through the Niger State Green Initiative, would help achieve desired outcomes.
Bago also stated that GEP will be given a platform to present their work at the upcoming Green Summit hosted by Niger State.
The Governor highlighted that Niger State is home to climate-resilient trees and crops capable of withstanding varying degrees of drought.
He further announced that the state is constructing the largest greenhouses in Africa and has entered discussions with the Egyptian and Russian governments for a multi-million dollar flower offtake deal.
Engr. Rahman Mogaji, the National Focal Point for the Greening Education Partnership, shared that the project’s goal is to address climate change through education.
He explained the initiative’s four pillars: greening schools, enhancing the curriculum, providing teacher training, and greening communities.
The focus will be on capacity building for teachers, enabling them to educate students about climate change comprehensively.
Mr. Mogaji praised Governor Bago’s transformation agenda, which includes green projects, and revealed that the GEP initiative aims to tackle the challenges that contribute to conflicts among communities.
Hajiya Maimuna Mohammed, the Director General of Niger State Schools Reforms and the State Coordinator for the Greening Education Project, remarked that Niger State is already leading the way in involving all relevant ministries and agencies required for the project’s successful execution.
The event concluded with the presentation of a Green Leadership Award of Excellence to Governor Umaru Bago by the Greening Education Partnership, recognizing his impactful contributions to the green economy.
