For residents of Lagos Island and Apapa, where flooding and sea-level rise bite hardest, climate change is no longer abstract. A new pilot—Citizens-Led Accountability Mechanism for Mitigating Climate Change Impact (CLAIM)—led by LACSOP with support from Bread for the World (BfdW), is mobilizing youths and community stakeholders to turn awareness into action.
At a validation workshop in Lagos, community members and civil society groups dissected a draft climate adaptation manual to ensure it reflects lived realities—from market women to young artisans. Dr. Olushola Adeoye (Nature Care Resource Center) said the goal is to shift perceptions from “mystical causes” to practical solutions: “If it doesn’t reflect their knowledge, language, or reality, then we have failed.”
- Scope & timeline: 18-month project (May 2025–Sept 2026) in two flood-prone communities—Lagos Island and Apapa.
- Youth focus: Training 18–35-year-olds as climate advocates able to sustain action beyond the project.
- Tools: A co-created training manual; community monitoring of environmental practices; campaigns on proper waste disposal, recycling, and drainage maintenance; local policy engagement.
Why it matters
- Participants cited worsening flooding, water scarcity, and poor waste management driving health risks.
- Many flooding problems are man-made, said Project Manager Omolara Olusaye, stressing “you see something, you say something” as the ethos of active citizenship.
- Government representatives joined the workshop, signaling a tri-sector partnership (communities–CSOs–government).
Voices from the communities
- Oluwaremilekun Abiodun Cole (Lagos Island Connect): “Climate action starts with us the youth are leaders of today.”
- Tanimola Yusuf Dauda (Apapa): “Change must start from the grassroots, from schools to community leaders. When floods come, it’s not politicians who suffer—it’s us.”
Bottom line: CLAIM aims to replace passivity with community-owned adaptation—cleaner drains, better waste practices, and youth-driven advocacy—to build a livable Lagos, one neighborhood at a time.
