By Felicia Imohimi

Dr Chinwoke Ifeanyi-Obi, a researcher and lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, has developed a Gender-Responsive Smart Monitor (G-SMART) tool to track gender inclusion in agricultural adaptation initiatives.

Ifeanyi-Obi, the university’s Acting Head of the Department of Agriculture Extension and Development Service, said the tool aimed to ensure that policies moved beyond intent to measurable action.

She made the remarks at a stakeholders’ validation meeting on the Gender Responsive SMART Framework, on Saturday in Abuja.

“The G-SMART monitor is a simplified framework designed to achieve two objectives: providing real-time assessment of gender responsiveness in climate change policies and evaluating policy implementation from the beneficiaries’ perspective,” she explained.

In her presentation, she said the G-SMART monitor was part of her Policy Innovation Project (PIP) under the ongoing Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellowship.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the GRASP Fellowship is a career development programme targeting mid-career African women in the policy field.

It aims to catalyse the design and implementation of gender-responsive agricultural policies across Africa.

The fellowship is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development.

Ifeanyi-Obi described the G-SMART framework as a gender analytical tool for assessing the gender responsiveness of climate change policies and programmes in the agricultural sector.

According to her, Nigeria, being a climate hotspot, is facing growing risks to food security and rural livelihoods, with projections indicating that climate change could lead to a 30 per cent drop in crop yields.

She said, “The menace could also reduce Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product by six to 30 per cent by 2050.”

Ifeanyi-Obi lamented that women and girls were disproportionately affected, with climate risks exacerbating existing gender inequalities.

“In Nigeria, women make up 60 to 79 per cent of the rural agricultural workforce, yet men are five times more likely to own land.

“Although the government has made efforts through various ministries to address gender gaps in climate adaptation by enacting policies and frameworks, implementation remains a challenge.

“Many existing policies lack specific measures and actionable strategies to effectively address gender inequality, hence the need for the G-SMART tool to bridge this gap.

“The framework will not only support responsible governments in adhering to gender commitments in existing policies but will also guide the development of new policies toward gender responsiveness,” she added.

She categorised the framework into two sets of indicators: those measuring gender responsiveness in climate change adaptation, and those assessing successful gender-responsive policy implementation.

Ifeanyi-Obi said the first section comprised 12 thematic areas of climate change that required gender mainstreaming to foster equality in adaptation policies and initiatives.

“These include involvement in decision-making and leadership, access to improved farm inputs and climate-resilient crop varieties.

“Other thematic areas are access to climate information and services; access to and ownership of agricultural assets including land; access to climate finance, credit finance, and insurance.

“Also, capacity building and education on climate adaptation,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Esenvosa Izah/Abiemwense Moru

By Fabian Ekeruche

The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) has released its five-year Plastic Brand Audit Report, spotlighting top corporate plastic polluters in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Brand Audit which was unveiled at a media event in Lagos, is part of activities to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day.

Speaking at the event, Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, SRADev Nigeria, said that over 11,000 plastic waste items were audited across six communities, revealing that food and beverage packaging—particularly PET bottles and sachet plastics—accounted for up to 99 per cent of pollution.

He noted that plastic pollution had escalated beyond an environmental issue to a public health crisis, linking it to cancer, hormonal disorders, and respiratory diseases.

He commended the Lagos State Government’s planned ban on single-use plastics, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, but urged for a broader scope that included PET bottles, nylon bags, and water sachets, which remained under-regulated.

“Top polluting companies must go beyond pledges and take measurable steps to reduce single-use plastics.

 “We urge them to reveal their plastic footprint, reduce production, and reinvent packaging to be reusable,” Adogame said.

SRADev called on the media to amplify awareness, drive public discourse, and hold corporate polluters accountable.

NAN reports that the audit was conducted under the global ‘Break Free From Plastic’ movement and contributes to international efforts for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian ihechu

By Fabian Ekeruche

Ahead of the Bonn Climate Conference SB62 in Germany, 12 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from across African, Europe and Russia have released a report on the growing number of African nations considering nuclear energy as part of their overall energy mix.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Executive Director, Renevyln Development Initiative, Nigeria, Mr Philip Jakpor, on Thursday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report is titled: ‘The Alarming Rise of False Climate Solutions in Africa ― The Nuclear Energy Misadventure.’

The statement said the report was prepared by campaigners as a collective advocacy report with a number of strong recommendations that reflect the breadth of their shared concerns about the development of nuclear energy across the continent.

The groups are unanimous in their demand for a nuclear free Africa, safe from the dangers of nuclear energy and instead building a future powered by clean, affordable solutions.

The report listed the countries to include Angola, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.

“They have all made announcements concerning new nuclear power plants. South Africa has the continent’s only operating nuclear power plant, commissioned in 1984 during the apartheid era,” the report said.

It quoted Makoma Lekalakala, Goldman Prize recipient for Africa 2018, in her foreword in the report, as saying that post-carbon economy must be green for sustainability.

“The demand for a Just Transition to a post-carbon economy means it must be green, sustainable and socially inclusive.

“This comprehensive report lays out the case for why the nuclear energy option is not compatible with these demands.

“It shows how the nuclear energy lobby undermines and obstructs the need for net zero to be achieved by 100 per cent clean sustainable renewable energy.

“The report gives details on the extent of plans and announcements to roll out nuclear power plants across the African continent,” Lekalakala said.

The statement said the report explores the numerous reasons why setting up nuclear plant was not the answer to the continent’s effort to reduce emissions.

It added that the urgency of the climate crisis means nuclear energy is too slow to deliver; it is harmful to human health and the environment; and unlike renewables not suited to solving the present problems of energy poverty.

According to the statement, the continent is becoming both a potential testing ground and, in particular, a battleground for conflicting geopolitical influences that are also playing out in the field of nuclear technology exports, or rather the prospect of such exports.

It added that at the same time, the nuclear energy lobby is extensive, well-funded and global PR effort, including at UNFCCC climate meetings is also documented in the report.

The statement said the authors of the report called for an end to plans and announcements to spend billions on building new nuclear power plants.

They argued that three quarters of Africa’s climate finance needs were not met with more than half of existing climate finance in debt instruments.

“This report makes clear that Africa’s energy needs do not require nuclear power.

“The way forward clearly lies in funding clean, safe renewable energy sources, of which the continent has an abundance,” the statement said.

The statement also quoted Mr Philip Jakpor Executive Director Renevyln Development Initiative (RDI), as describing nuclear plans as “misadventure.”

“Nuclear plans are a “misadventure”. Nigeria is not ready to host nuclear plants because we don’t have the capacity to manage it.

“We’ve had longstanding difficulties with oil and gas infrastructure where pipelines are frequently the target of sabotage, theft or terrorism, causing enormous environmental damage in the Niger Delta.

“A nuclear power station would inevitably become a “target of terrorists”. Security at a nuclear power station would need to be akin to a “military base” probably protected by another country such as Russia,” Jakpor said.

The Executive Director 360 Human Rights, Mr Alberta Kpeleku, was quoted as saying that it was time for Ghana to reject nuclear power plans.

“From environmental disasters to health risks and economic concerns, it’s time for Ghana to reject nuclear power plans.

“There are far too many risks. Nuclear accidents, radioactive waste, health risks, security threats, nuclear proliferation, terrorism.

“The devastating effects of nuclear accidents do not affect the present generation alone but also generations yet unborn.

“Alternatives and solutions for nuclear energy include renewable energy sources—solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal—which should be prioritised,” Kpeleku said.

Other CSOs include Ecodefense (Russia), International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (Germany Affiliate), Renevlyn Development Initiative (Nigeria), Resilient 40 (African Climate Network)

Also included are: The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (South Africa), Tipping Point North South (UK), Uganda Environment Action Now (Uganda). (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma