RUWASA Hosts Empowering Workshop to Harness Collective Action Against Climate Change
By Yeri Akila Yerima.
The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASA, has organized a three-day workshop on mitigation of climate change impact.
The workshop in collaboration with the UNICEF project featured tree planting at the RUWASA premises in Jalingo the state capital.
The workshop, held at the Nurses House Hall Jalingo, with the theme; Community-based climate change adaptation and resilience activities involving environmental sanitation, planting of trees, improved water quality, and environmental protection to enhance healthy living.
Participants numbering 50 cut across the Local Government Areas of Taraba State.
The training covers combating the devastating impact of climate change.
The Project Manager of Taraba State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASA, Mr. Julius Tubasen Awudu, represented by the Agency’s Secretary, Hajiya Hauwa Garbabi, stated that the workshop will equip participants with current knowledge on promoting healthy living, environmental ownership, and activities that foster environmental protection against climate change.
Hajiya Garbabi emphasized the relevance of the training amidst climate change challenges and encouraged participants to fully engage with the training and subsequently disseminate the knowledge to local communities, thereby promoting environmental sustainability.
The lead facilitator and WASH consultant, Dr. Sam Andenriyang, and other trainers, noted that the participants are agents of change in protecting the environment from the ravages of climate change.
They cited factors contributing to climate change, to include deforestation, population growth, pollution from fossil fuel combustion, vehicle and industrial emissions, poor waste management practices, inadequate quality water and poor sanitation.
In their separate remarks, the Director of Water Quality at RUWASA, Mr. Timothy AKafa, and the Director of Monitoring, Planning, and Evaluation Gambo Mohammed, gave additional perspectives on the benefits of the training, urging participants to take advantage of the knowledge to promote environmental protection.
Some participants expressed satisfaction with the training and assured the organisers that they would act accordingly to combat the dangers of climate change in the state.
As part of the workshop training activities, trees were planted at the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency premises by the organisers and participants
The tree planting and training will continue in some Local Government Areas in Taraba State.
