Sokoto State government has assured of its readiness to address the issue of climate change as it affects students’ development across schools in the state
The state director, Upper Basic School, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, who stated this during the World Children’s Day held at UNICEF Office in Sokoto, said the state government was aware and has created ways and avenue on how to tackle the challenges of climate change in the state.
Fatima Muhammad Bello from Nana Asmau Secondary School, Sokoto, in her contribution, emphasised that children are not the cause of climate change but the impact on them was high in every aspect, even harder on children living in remote areas.
She posited that, “the media and civil society groups should intensify awareness of climate change by using aggressive campaign for public enlightenment.
“To our fellow children, our parents, and other adults, we urge you to lead by example by planting trees, keeping drainages clean, ensuring proper waste disposal and taking actions to reduce harmful gas emissions in the atmosphere.”
Mr Francis Elijah, Education Officer, UNICEF, Sokoto Field Office, said the organisation viewed climate change as a child rights crisis.
Elijah further explained that climate change was one of the cross cutting issues at this year’s World Children Day celebration to raise awareness and do intervention in accordance with UNICEF in its new strategic plan.
