By Abbas Bamalli

A non-governmental organisation, the GoalPrime Organisation Nigeria (GPON), has begun a campaign to strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness in Katsina State.

The Advocacy Officer, Miss Maimunat Muhammad-Kabir, said at the opening of a three-day campaign in Katsina, that the North-West region was facing multiple natural and human-induced challenges.

Speaking at the campaign titled: “Climate Information, Disaster Risk Concepts, and Anticipatory Action Plan Development”, Muhammad-Kabir said that conflicts, displacement, insecurity, and climate change impact were plaguing the region.

The GPON official said that the challenges in the region had disrupted learning, increased vulnerability, and weakened the resilience of both host and displaced communities, especially in Katsina and Zamfara States.

“Children, girls, and those with disabilities are the worst hit, this campaign aims to strengthen community-led anticipatory actions to improve climate resilience.

“Our targets here are vulnerable schools and communities in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina, and Anka in Zamfara.

“The participants are guided through hands-on sessions to help them to develop localised anticipatory action plans.

“These are plans designed to identify key hazards, triggers, and early actions tailored towards their specific local government areas,” she said.

Muhammad-Kabir further said that the goal of the campaign was to strengthen coordination among stakeholders to ensure disaster risk reduction and early warning response.

She said that GPON was a national NGO dedicated to improving the lives of children, young people and caregivers through partnerships and culturally sensitive approaches.

Also speaking at the event, Miss Beatrice Ama-Noah, the Climate Action Lead, said that the campaign would improve stakeholders’ understanding of climate risk, anticipatory action frameworks, and emergency preparedness.

Ama-Noah said that the plans developed during the campaign would enhance collaboration between stakeholders and trigger effective preparedness for climate-related emergencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign is being organised in collaboration with Save the Children International under the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) First Emergency Response project.

It brought together government officials, technical agencies, and community leaders to improve knowledge and coordination around climate risk and early warning systems. (NAN)

Edited by Ehigimetor Igbaugba and Azubuike Okeh