By Maryam Diallo Dakar
Environmental stakeholders from across Kaduna State gathered for the February edition of the Kaduna Monthly Climate Hangout, calling for stronger collaboration and innovative solutions to address waste management challenges.
Participants emphasized the urgent need to protect the environment from pollution that threatens both human and ecological health.
Organized by the Desk of Climate Change and Environment at the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), in partnership with African Climate Reporters (ACR) and the Office of the Kaduna State Governor on Climate Change, the one-day forum also featured a “step-down” session. This session allowed journalists from across the state to share lessons learned from the recent Kano climate reporting workshop.
The forum, held under the theme “Rethinking Waste: Innovative Recycling Solutions for a Greener Kaduna,” brought together scientists, climatologists, geologists, professional doctors,academics, religious leaders, environmental journalists, youths, civil society organizations, and NGOs. Its goal was to promote a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment in Kaduna State.
Panel discussions offered a robust, two-hour interactive session where experts shared practical approaches to reduce waste-related pollution, flooding, and land degradation.
Comrade Ibrahima Yakubu, Head of Communication and Strategies at African Climate Reporters, who is a science and environment journalist,highlighted that the Kano workshop for journalists from Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa equipped participants with essential tools, knowledge, and skills to produce impactful climate stories, documentaries, and feature programs.
During the Kaduna Hangout, many journalists shared lessons from the Kano workshop, discussing ways to enhance community-based reporting and communicate climate issues effectively in local languages.
Yakubu also commended the Kano conference organizers, including Pace Projects Kano and other development partners, for their efforts.
Delivering the lead paper, Comrade Yahaya Muhammed, Controller-General of Safety Awareness and Environmental Support Initiatives (SAESI), stressed the need to strengthen recycling companies to manage growing waste volumes.
He highlighted the importance of public education in ending harmful practices like open waste burning, which poses serious health and environmental risks. Muhammed noted that while plastic waste remains a major challenge, proper recycling could transform it into valuable resources, emphasizing that “waste is wealth.” He also commended the Kaduna State Government for Operation Tsafta and the revival of monthly sanitation exercises to reduce environmental waste.
Comrade Bala Umar, President of the Association of Horticulture Farmers Unity and Development, shared that the association plants over 50 million seedlings annually, using discarded pure water sachets collected from streets as nursery materials. He urged residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste and support community-based waste recycling initiatives.
Malama Halima Haruna, a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic, called for ongoing public sensitization on the dangers of improper waste disposal and encouraged support for recycling companies, which could create thousands of jobs in northern Nigeria.
Finally, Mr. Samsam Auta, Co-Director at IMC, described the Kaduna Monthly Climate Hangout as a critical platform for dialogue, collaboration, and policy-oriented discussions on climate change and environmental protection.
He noted that the Hangout serves as Kaduna’s strongest climate hub, bringing together stakeholders committed to environmental sustainability, and commended the active participation of journalists and media organizations.
