As communities in Akwa Ibom continue to witness incidents of flooding and pollution, youths in the state have called on the government and private organisations to invest strategically in climate adaptation infrastructure to mitigate the impact.
This was part of the insights from youth entries (stories) at the Ibeno Green Youth Hub held in Ibeno Local Government Area, organized by Clement Isong Foundation, CIF, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria as part of the International Youth Day 2025 celebrations. The theme of the event was, ‘Youth SDG Storytelling and Solutions Convergence’.
The youths observed that communities in Akwa Ibom are increasingly vulnerable to flooding, plastic pollution clogging waterways and rising air pollution from open waste burning.
They, therefore, called on government to “invest strategically in climate adaptation infrastructure, integrate climate education into schools, ensure that Green Youth Skills are embedded into policies”.
They also called on the private sector to as well prioritize and fund youth-led solutions that would address local climate challenges.
In his welcome address and overview of SPAII, Utibe Ekanem, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, CIF, urged government and policymakers to ensure that the needs of vulnerable people in communities were addressed
He stated that the essence of the programme was to give young people the platform to share real stories of the challenges in their communities and proffer possible solutions for relevant authorities.
On her part, Mbetobong John, Climate Justice Inspirator at ActionAid Nigeria noted that no SDG issue can be addressed in isolation.
She said from the youth entries, a lot of work needs to be done in education and health sectors, especially in the rural communities in Akwa Ibom.
“Government and health institutions should prioritize the establishment of healthcare facilities in all public schools, expand community health outreach, prioritize mental health programs, and provide affordable, accessible care for all,” she said.
John who also hinted the rising cases of gender based violence in the state called for strengthened implementation of GBV policies and safe spaces for survivors, ensuring they provide counseling, legal aid, and referral services, while implementing preventive education programs to challenge harmful gender norms.
Earlier, the Vice Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Council, Ukpong Okon, expressed delight at the event, describing it as a welcome development to help young people discover their niche.
He pledged the council’s support for the advocacy project and encouraged the youths to engage actively in the SDGs to make Akwa Ibom a better place.
