Fourteen corps members have been equipped with climate literacy and grassroots engagement skills at a climate literacy train-the-trainers workshop organised by young climate advocate, Tolulope T. Gbenro, in partnership with the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, BBYDI.
The workshop formed part of the Eco Champions Programme supported by SOS Children’s Village Nigeria and was designed to prepare corps members to drive climate awareness and action within their primary assignment communities.
In her welcome remarks, Gbenro said the initiative was inspired by her years of experience in climate action and lessons from her national service year in Ilorin, which strengthened her resolve to deepen climate awareness among people.
Setting the tone for the workshop, the National Programme Manager of SOS Children’s Village Nigeria, Mr David Gabriel, provided an ethical framework for the initiative, linking environmental degradation to child rights concerns such as displacement, loss of education, health challenges and increased vulnerability.
Gabriel charged participants to prioritise child safety and inclusion in their climate engagements, especially for the most vulnerable groups, noting that climate action must consider its social impact on families.
Delivering the keynote address themed “Mobilising Grassroots Action,” Chika Ernest Okoli described climate action as a people-driven movement rooted in local ownership rather than top-down directives.
Drawing from his experience in community mobilisation, Okoli encouraged participants to see themselves as catalysts capable of igniting action in their host communities through storytelling, advocacy and practical initiatives such as community gardens and waste management systems.
Gbenro later facilitated a foundational session on climate change in Nigeria, breaking down key concepts by distinguishing between weather and climate and explaining the greenhouse effect using simple analogies.
The session examined Nigeria-specific impacts, including altered Harmattan patterns, flooding, agricultural disruption, rising food prices and related health concerns, equipping participants with facts to counter misinformation.
Ameedat Abdulsalam led a session on community engagement strategies, focusing on cultural sensitivity, power mapping to identify key influencers such as religious leaders and PTA heads, and approaches for co-creating solutions.
In a hands-on methodology session, Rifikatu Joseph Odeyemi introduced the “Learn, Simplify, Teach” model, demonstrating the use of flashcards, interactive question-and-answer formats and time management techniques for effective school presentations.
Dasola Adelegan guided participants through steps for initiating school-based climate actions, including forming Eco-Clubs, setting up waste sorting stations, organising community clean-ups and launching Adopt-a-Tree initiatives.
A career-focused session by Chizoba Nzeakor explored opportunities in climate-related fields such as policy, technology, finance and communication, offering guidance on skill specialisation, portfolio development and professional networking.
Some participants, including Kave Blessing and Michael Onoja, described the training as simplified, detailed and empowering, saying it improved their confidence to engage communities on climate issues.
The workshop concluded with a programme implementation session reviewing key deliverables, reporting templates and follow-up expectations.
Certificates were presented to participants, alongside the distribution of BBYDI Climate Champs flashcards and the announcement of follow-up virtual sessions.
The next phase of the initiative aims to reach over 400 Nigerians through step-down trainings to be implemented by the fellows nationwide.
In her closing remarks, the Programme Director of BBYDI, Mrs Halimat Olufade, urged participants to remain committed to the project’s next phase and to fully utilise the opportunities provided through the fellowship.
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