By Atiku Galadima, Maiduguri
Rising heat, irregular rainfall and shrinking farmlands are worsening hunger, displacement and mental health challenges among young people in North-East Nigeria.
The Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI) raised the alarm on Wednesday, warning that the growing impact of climate change is threatening lives and livelihoods in the region, especially among youths who face rising food insecurity, unemployment and psychological distress.
Speaking in Maiduguri, the Executive Director of CATAI, Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu, said recent findings show that climate change is not only destroying agricultural productivity but also affecting the physical and mental wellbeing of young people.
Mu’azu, who was represented by Ibrahim Sabo Abdulkadir, CATAI’s lead on the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) II project funded by ActionAid Nigeria, spoke during the North-East Regional Local Conference on Youths (LCOY 2025) held in Maiduguri.
The conference, themed “Youths at the Forefront of Climate Change: Accelerating Action for Just Transition,” brought together participants from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States to share ideas, build capacity and strengthen youth-led climate action in the region.
Mu’azu explained that climate change has become a growing threat to young people’s health and livelihoods, citing evidence of increasing cases of eco-anxiety, stress and post-traumatic stress disorder among youths. He added that the crisis has exposed many to respiratory illnesses, malnutrition and diarrhoeal diseases, aggravated by poor access to clean water and nutritious food.
He said the situation is worsened by food and water shortages, forced displacement and a sense of helplessness, particularly among girls and women in vulnerable communities. “These conditions have created feelings of frustration and even betrayal among youths who believe government response to climate-related challenges has been slow and inadequate,” he said.
The CATAI Executive Director warned that climate change is undermining agriculture in the North-East through reduced crop yields, livestock losses, drought, flooding and pest infestations, leading to higher food prices and growing competition over scarce resources.
At the conference, young participants were trained on climate advocacy, green entrepreneurship, renewable energy initiatives and environmental conservation, as part of CATAI’s efforts to strengthen youth voices in climate action and community development.
Mu’azu said the centre has introduced several youth-focused projects under the SPA II programme, including the Borno Youth Development Plan, advocacy for youth inclusion in governance and environmental campaigns such as tree-planting drives, community clean-ups and climate action street walks.
“The project aims to create a platform for young people to participate in public dialogue and contribute meaningfully to community development and the creation of a fairer, greener future,” he said.
He reaffirmed CATAI’s commitment to empowering young people as active agents of change in the fight against climate change, noting that inclusive, youth-driven solutions are vital for building resilience and ensuring sustainable development across the North-East.