Climate Change: SOS Urges Nigeria to Safeguard Vulnerable Children

By Julian Osamoto

 

 

SOS Children’s Villages (SOSCV), has warned that Children without parental care in Nigeria face growing risks, and failure to protect them could have long-term consequences for the country.

Ayodeji Adelopo, Chief Programme Officer at SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, issued the warning in Lagos, while opening a climate change media workshop aimed at empowering journalists to shape narratives around environmental challenges.

The event also marked the unveiling of the SOSCV Eco-Champion Project, tagged; Empowering Youth for Gender-Responsive Climate Action, which supports young activists driving climate justice across the country.

Adelopo  maintained that “Children by their nature are vulnerable. But those without parental care, or at risk of losing it, are even more vulnerable.”

“If we fail to support them, the danger is not just for the child but ultimately for society.”

He urged urgent reforms to the Child Rights Act, first enacted in 2003, noting that insurgency, cyberbullying and worsening economic hardship have left many more children exposed.

He warned that “A child who never knew the care of a society may feel no remorse burning that society down.”

 

“This is why so many young people are easily recruited into insecurity. We must begin to see this as a security issue and respond accordingly.”

 

He stressed that protecting children requires joint action: “Government, corporate bodies, individuals, we all have a lot to do. If we get it right, these children will grow to become contributors to society rather than threats to it.”

 

Alongside advocacy, SOSCV is supporting grassroots solutions led by young Nigerians.

In Calabar, Banita Obot, founder of the Eco Sustainable Future Initiative, narrate how the 2022 floods that devastated Bayelsa and Delta states inspired her to act.

“My friends lost their livelihoods and couldn’t return to school,” she said. “That inspired me to teach children how to reduce, reuse and recycle waste.”

With support from SOSCV, Ms Obot is training 300 children in six Cross River schools using the SOF Playbook, which teaches pupils to turn waste into reusable bags, puff stools and other income-generating products.

“We’re not just teaching climate skills we’re giving them tools to survive and thrive,” she added.

In Lagos, Shukurat Akinola, co-founder of the Eco-Aiders Initiative, is also equipping young people with climate solutions.

“Waste is not waste until you waste it. We need to change mindsets. Climate change is real, we must stop denying and start complying,” she said.

Her group has reached more than 400 students through climate quizzes and exhibitions in eight schools. “We want to spark the green mind in them so they can lead climate action,” she explained.

Also in Ibadan, Hannah Omokhaye, Founder, Eco smart Club, said her team created 15  clubs, 5 recycling bins, 5 up cycling kits and stepped down training for over 1000 students.

“We were able to recycle 396kg of pets, while 52 teachers were trained on greens towards achieving climate change justice.

SOS Children’s Villages said urgent investment in child protection and climate education remains key to prevent more children from falling through the cracks.