Photos: 2019 NIGER DELTA WOMEN’S DAY OF ACTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE

By

 Black Satino

Over 500 Niger Delta Women, male supporters and stakeholders in the Climate Change and
Environment section converged in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State at Endyz Event Center on
Tuesday December 17, 2019 to mark the Niger Delta Women’s Day for Climate Justice, an
annual event to draw attention to the plight of women in extractive communities as well as

stand in solidarity with Ogonis on the UNEP Clean-Up. 

The programme which had as theme, “Building Women Resilience for Climate Action” received
goodwill messages from several bodies including HOMEF, HYPREP, government officials from
other ministerial departments, commending the women action and advising more
collaborations with government to ignite more positive action on the environment.
A keynote address prepared by Dr Heoma Worlu on Women’ s Resilience For Climate Change
identified patriarchy as a major contributor to the challenges of women as it denies them
access to land beyond the surface as well as access to social benefits attached whereas they
suffer more from climate change and effects of oil and gas extraction.
Discussion panels covered issues on Climate Change in the Niger Delta, Ogoni Clean-Up,
Women and Livelihood, and Ecofeminism and agreed that climate change has come to stay so
what is needed are means of adaptation.
The panelists observed that even though climate change and its attendant negative impact on
society are felt most by women and children, not much is being done to address this.
They agreed that the first step towards building resilience is individual efforts to back up..


MOVING FORWARD
The Women’s Day of Action recommended the following:
*That there is needed, Gender and Climate Action Plans by government

That communities adopt a plant 10 before you cut one tree policy to safeguard the
environment from climate change

*That mapping and nurturing of traditional seedlings be carried out
*Rejection of genetically modified organisms, GMO plants, and animals to save both humans
and the environment
*That women need to understand their power and use it to make their needs respected and
society better.
*That Government should set up effective policies for the mitigation and adaptation of climate
change and such policies must include women in planning and execution.
*Government should develop policies to sensitize the citizenry and encourage acts to mitigate
climate change.
*That CSOs should pressurize policy makers to implement existing environmental and climate
change policies.

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That women should write themselves back to relevance through good use of both the
traditional and social media and,
*Continue to pass on knowledge, agitate for environmental justice until expected change
comes.
*The women commended Development & Peace, BothENDS Ford Foundation,and Womin, for funding
the programme.

Signed:
NIGER DELTA WOMEN DAY OF ACTION COMMITTEE