By Ehis Agbon, Kaduna, Nigeria
In a powerful response to the environmental and socio-economic challenges gripping parts of Kaduna State, Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG) has launched a landmark project targeting three of the state’s most vulnerable Local Government Areas—Zaria, Chikun, and Zango Kataf. The initiative, titled “Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative,” is a six-month, action-driven project set to reshape climate governance by putting women at the center of environmental advocacy and community transformation.
Funded by the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), a UK-funded program through the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), this initiative represents a critical turning point in Kaduna’s efforts to respond to environmental degradation while also correcting historical gender imbalances in decision-making structures.
A Troubling Climate Picture
Kaduna State is currently facing one of the most acute environmental crises in Nigeria’s northwestern region. With widespread deforestation, rapid desert encroachment, soil degradation, and increasingly erratic weather patterns, the livelihoods of millions hang in the balance.
Data from Global Forest Watch reveals that in 2023 alone, Kaduna lost over 5,400 hectares of natural forest, resulting in 1.94 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions. These changes have worsened living conditions, especially for women who often rely on farming and small-scale businesses to support their families.
“It’s not just about the environment,” explained Gloria Kasang Bulus, Executive Director of BTG and one of the state’s leading voices on climate justice. “It’s about justice. It’s about equity. Women are suffering the most but are given the least say in how to respond. That has to change.”
Focus Areas: Zaria, Chikun, and Zango Kataf
The new project zeroes in on three LGAs that have seen some of the worst environmental deterioration in recent years:
- Zaria LGA is grappling with severe deforestation driven primarily by the heavy reliance on firewood for domestic energy needs. According to satellite studies from 1973 to 2014, over 80% of the vegetation in Zaria has been destroyed, with fuelwood consumption accounting for nearly 40% of the loss.
- Chikun LGA, particularly areas like Kakau Daji, faces double threats—from local communities depending on forests for fuel and from toxic emissions and industrial pollution linked to petrochemical plants in the vicinity. The region is also witnessing biodiversity loss and dangerous soil erosion.
- Zango Kataf LGA, home to many internally displaced persons (IDPs), is reeling under erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and land use conflicts. Here, women are on the frontlines, battling access to clean water, farmland, and resources in a fragile environment that is rapidly deteriorating.
Empowering Women: The Heart of the Project
At its core, the initiative recognizes women not just as victims of climate change but as agents of change. Through training sessions, distribution of energy-efficient cookstoves, and development of inclusive climate action plans, the project seeks to elevate the voices of women in local and state-level governance.
Women are expected to play a lead role in the formulation of gender-responsive environmental policies, aligning with the Kaduna State Climate Change Policy, which emphasizes inclusivity and sustainability. Special attention is also being paid to ensuring Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are not left behind.
“This project is not just about saving trees or managing rainfall. It’s about saving lives and creating leadership opportunities for women where they’ve long been shut out,” said Gloria Bulus, who also serves as the Sarauniyar Sauyin Yanayi (Queen/Ambassador of Climate) of Chikun Chiefdom.
Four Pillars for Transformation
The Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative is built on four strategic pillars:
- Policy Advocacy Capacity Building: Women-led coalitions will receive intensive training to enable them to effectively engage in local governance and influence climate-related decisions.
- Gender-Inclusive Climate Action Planning: Local climate action plans will be developed with active participation from women and PWDs, ensuring no one is left behind.
- Climate Adaptation Implementation: The initiative will deploy grassroots climate solutions including reforestation, clean energy promotion, and climate-smart agriculture.
- Stakeholder Engagement: A collaborative framework will be established among government agencies, women’s groups, the private sector, and environmental actors to sustain impact and promote policy alignment.
A Greener Kaduna: From Talk to Trees
BTG has already demonstrated its commitment to concrete action. Over 3,000 economic and forest trees have been planted in Chikun LGA. With the support of the PACE Programme, an additional 6,000 trees are set to be planted across the three project LGAs. The organization aims to reach 15,000 trees planted before the end of the project cycle.
Furthermore, journalists in Kaduna will undergo capacity building to enhance their climate reporting skills. This move is expected to amplify public awareness and strengthen advocacy efforts through informed media coverage.
About the PACE Programme
The Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) is designed to foster inclusive and evidence-based policymaking. Operating across Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa States, the program aims to integrate climate concerns into governance and public budgeting, increase internally generated revenue (IGR), and strengthen electoral processes.
BTG is one of the key implementing partners in Kaduna and plays a pivotal role in bringing community perspectives into government-led reforms.
Looking Ahead
As the effects of climate change continue to threaten livelihoods across Nigeria, the Bridge That Gap Initiative’s efforts represent a ray of hope—not just for the environment but for the marginalized voices that have been excluded for too long.
Gloria Bulus summarizes it best:
“You cannot build climate resilience without building people—especially women—who are ready and empowered to act. This is not charity. This is survival. And women will lead the way.”
