A project funded by the government of Denmark and implemented by Academic Associates Peaceworks (AAPW) has held an inaugural meeting of its network members in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The project is aimed at advancing community capacity to mitigate climate change impact and develop a blue and green economy in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the meeting held on Saturday, Mr. Jeremiah Utavie, Project Manager, stated that the purpose of the meeting was to interact with network members on how to improve community capacity to mitigate climate change.
He explained that the network members are composed of various experts who will provide advocacy and policy direction for the project.
“The network is a composition of experts in various relevant government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organizations, the media and the community people.
“The network is to galvanize and to aggregate the challenges being faced by the communities where the network will find solutions to these challenges being faced by the communities,” he said.
Also speaking, Ephraim Hellendendu, the Project’s Rural Economy Officer, stated that community members through the dialogue were able to articulate the various challenges they are encountering.
He also emphasised that stakeholders deviced strategies which they will collaborate on to put up effective solutions for adaptation.
According to him, “the communities also have their own adaptation strategies which they have already started telling us and together we are going to proffer solutions to adapt more and how to adapt better to the impact of climate change.
“So a lot of discussions have been opened up. Different alternatives have been suggested, especially adopting climate smart agricultural practices. So these are some of the strategies.”
On his part, the Executive Director of Trees For Tomorrow Initiative, Chief Bartholomew Okolobi, while explaining the impact of climate change on communities, emphasised the significant transformation that has taken place.
He also announced the donation of 100 seedlings of bush beans (Traculia Africans).
He said: “To mitigate climate change is to plant trees. So to contribute to planting of trees, we have contributed to this organisation to support them in their efforts.”
On her part, Mrs Timothy Esther, a member of the network also said that, “Today, we have looked at the blue economy and the green economy. For the green economy, we have a good result but we still need the government and other organisations to come and assist us.”
