YMCA trains women, youths on briquettes production, nursery management in Nasarawa

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By Linus Ogbu, Lafia

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN) have trained 65 women and youths on briquettes production, community nursery establishment and management in Nasarawa State.

Mr Kenneth Akpan, Project lead for African Activists for climate Justice (AACJ) for Oxfam, said the two days capacity building training aimed at showcasing locally lead adaptation to climate change for women and youths in the state.

According to him, the training will impart knowledge of raising economic trees seedlings and briquettes production to mitigate climate change impacts on community, women and youths in the state.

Akpan further said that the training would also enhance their knowledge and bring source of livelihood alternatively to farming, which has seriously being impacted by low yield as a result of poor performance of soil.

“We are here in Nasarawa state to support a locally lead action adaptation to climate change particularly for women and youths, it is a call to action for African climate week action that is going on.

“We are showcasing a locally lead action adaptation to climate change, this is also going to give them alternative off season source of livelihood and adaptation, that is the way for them to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts.

Akpan said the production of briquettes would reduce the menace of deforestation going on in Nasarawa state and generate income for women and youths in the state.

He noted that briquettes production would also provide alternative source of clean energy to their communities, and also serve as source of livelihood for women and youths.

“We are going to see communities come out with contribution to better environment, and overall for their own good, that’s why Oxfam and partners; YMCA and ASSAPIN are carrying out this training based on the goals of AACJ project for vulnerable communities.

“Apart from the training, we are going to link them up with markets, ministry of environment and agriculture to see how they can be encouraged,” he said.

Also speaking, Angbashim Ishaku, Director, climate change in the state ministry of environment, commended Oxfam and partners, noting that training was in line with government efforts toward mitigating climate change impacts.

The lead facilitator, Enokela Candidus, a consultant with Burgeon, Bauchi State, said the community nursery establishment and management would generate income for the women and youths to help them build resilience against climate change.

“YMCA Mada Hills has purchased the required 7,500 oil palm seedlings and 50 citrus sprouts, in the coming days they will start going to the communities for nursing, that’s the only way we can cope with climate change,” he said.

Peter Bassey, a facilitator and founder of P.I.B Global Service Ltd, said the women and youths have learnt how to produce briquette coal using waste materials, rice and maize husks among others without cutting down trees.

Mercy David, a participant, thanked Oxfam and partners for the training, noting that the training has equipped her with knowledge to produce briquette coal without cutting down trees and promised to step down the training in her community.