By Muhammad Hamisu Abdullahi
A two-day training to build the capacity for the 44 local government desk officers for climate change has been organized in Kano.
The event was with a collaboration between the state Ministry for Local
Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the state Ministry of Environment and Climate
Change and Partnership for Agile and Climate Engagement (PACE).
The hosting of the event was also made possible with additional technical support from the state Ministry of Planning and Budget as well as the state Investment Promotion Agency (KanInvest).
A total of 110 participants, including the Desk Officers from all the 44 local government areas in the state, those staff from the state Ministry for Environment and Climate Change, PACE and the media attended the occasion.
The training equipped the frontline local government officers with the technical knowledge and tools needed to drive climate action at the grassroots level across the state.
Technical teams of the ministries and agency led the sessions covering key thematic areas, with outputs which informed deeper technical engagements with the Desk Officers going forward.
This event was a significant step in the state’s commitment to embedding climate resilience within local governance structures.
Its objectives were to enhance awareness and understanding of climate change and climate action; to clarify stakeholders’ roles in addressing climate change and to farmiliarise stakeholders with the existing coordination mechanism for integrated climate action in the state, including its structure, functions and mandate.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftency Affairs, Alhaji Tajuddeen Othman, represented by the ministry’s Director of Administration and General Services, Malam Sani Alhassan, explained the effect of climate change on local levels.
Alhaji Othman said the desk officers learnt a lot from the event, adding that they would use the experience gathered to carry out their responsibilities diligently, reiterating that empowering local leaders was imperative as they were allowed to know their communities well.
He urged the local desk officers to know that their tasks had started from the same day the training was concluded.
He described climate change as a global challenge with its solution coming from the local communities themselves.
The commissioner appreciated the effort of PACE-FCDO for a job well done, commending the desk officers for attending the event, hoping that they would take the knowledge back to their respective communities.
Speaking during the session, PACE Facilitator, Malama Habiba Isyaku Njidda, said the PACE programme, a governance initiative with a 30 per cent focus on climate governance, builds on over 25 years of governance interventions across the country.
She outlined progress in strengthening climate governance in the state, describing it as one of the programme’s key focal areas in the country.
She noted that since the programme’s inception in 2024 and full implementation in 2025, the state has recorded significant improvements in institutional frameworks for climate governance.
According to her, the efforts include the development of climate change policies, integration of climate action into budgeting processes and the incorporation of climate considerations into local government development plans.
Malama Njidda also highlighted the appointment of climate change desk officers across the 44 local government areas, stressing that their role was crucial given that the impacts of climate change were most felt at the grassroots.
“Because most of the impact of climate change is felt at the grassroots, your role is critical in addressing these challenges within your communities,” she said.
She explained that the two-day training aims to strengthen the capacity of participants and equip them with the necessary skills to tackle climate-related issues effectively.
The facilitator added that participants would engage with technical officials from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, to gain insights into ongoing state-level interventions.
She further disclosed that representatives from the KanInvest would provide guidance on leveraging public-private partnerships and investment opportunities to support climate action at the grassroots.
In addition, the Ministry of Planning and Budget is expected to brief participants on climate-related planning and budgeting processes at both state and local government levels, including mechanisms for tracking implementation and impact.
Malama Njidda commended participants who volunteered as rapporteurs, noting that their reports would play a vital role in informing the Ministry for Local Government on the outcomes of the engagement and shaping future interventions.
She reiterated PACE’s commitment to strengthening local capacity and expanding the benefits of its interventions to communities across Kano State and beyond.
The event was held between March 25 and 26 this year at Tahir Guest Palace in the state.