Fellowship raises climate activists

The Lake Chad Climate Justice Fellowship, funded by the Climate Justice Resilience Fund (CJRF) and implemented by DEAN Initiative, is raising at least 20 young climate activists from Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon to directly tackle the shrinking of the Lake.

In addition, the Fellowship has set aside the next 24 months to work together with youths in these countries, saying that this group of people deserves access to leadership, resources, and platforms that would allow them to shape the future of the Lake Chad Basin.

Project Officer of the Fellowship, Doreen Oho, who spoke, yesterday, during a media briefing in Abuja, stated that they are supporting the young people because of the ripple effects the drying up of the water has caused in the region, such as displacement, hunger, violence, and in all of these, women and girls are hit hardest.

She said for over a decade, the Fellowship had worked to break the barriers between young people and meaningful civic, social, and environmental engagement, especially at the grassroots level.

“Whether it’s leading campaigns for open governance, empowering students through digital learning, or advocating for climate-smart development, our work is grounded in ensuring that youths are not just seen as beneficiaries, but as architects of change,” she said.

The Project Officer explained that it’s a bold and timely effort to ensure that young people in one of the most climate-impacted and politically fragile regions in Africa, like the Lake Chad Basin, are equipped to respond, lead, and build lasting solutions.