Abia Trains Climate Desk Officers on Adaptation, Mitigation Strategies

The Climate Change Desk Officers across Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Abia State have been charged to deepen their understanding of climate change concepts as drivers of policies that will strengthen adaptation and mitigation efforts in communities.

This charge was given by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, during a “train-the-trainers” session of a five-day stakeholders’ consultation workshop in Umuahia. The workshop was hosted by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Climate Change and Sustainability, in collaboration with the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), with support from the UK International Development.

Speaking through the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, the Commissioner stressed the urgent need to explore community-led initiatives and participatory approaches to achieve effective community-based climate change adaptation across the state.

Special Assistant to the Governor on Climate Change and Sustainability, Ms. Esther Chioma Aja, explained that the training aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to design and deliver climate-focused training programmes, strengthen their capacity for adaptation and mitigation strategies, foster collaboration, and share knowledge among stakeholders.

Facilitators from PACE commended Governor Alex Otti’s commitment to holistic transformation, particularly in climate policy and governance, as their reason for partnering with Abia. They pledged support in building climate-resilient communities, aligning development with global agreements, and ensuring sustainable practices beneficial to the state.

The facilitators also emphasized empowering participants to drive climate action, manage climate-related disasters, understand the economic dimensions of adaptation, and implement sustainable practices such as renewable energy adoption, waste management, and sustainable land use.