Media Must Lead on Climate Change Awareness – Kelani

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, Yusuf Kelani, has urged the media to dedicate greater attention to environmental issues, describing journalism as a critical tool in the fight against climate change.

Speaking at the Nigerian Climate Justice Media Awards in Abuja over the weekend, Kelani declared:

“I eat, I drink, I sleep, I live climate change,” he said, recalling how the 2009 Lagos floods inspired his personal activism.

Kelani challenged newsrooms to expand coverage beyond occasional programming. “Let’s create everyday environmental programming, not just once a week.

Government alone cannot succeed. The media must amplify the challenges and the solutions so Nigerians understand the urgency,” he stressed.

Development partners weighed in the event, hosted by the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) in partnership with Oxfam Nigeria, with strong calls from civil society leaders.

Oxfam’s Country Director, John Makina, said: “Media houses must keep asking the hard questions at federal and state levels.”

Representing the Ministry of Environment, Olaruwaju Akintola reaffirmed that climate change is “very, very real,” stressing that adaptation and mitigation begin with awareness and education.

The Strategy Director of PropComPlus, described climate change as a “hunger-risk multiplier,” citing evidence that rising temperatures could slash agricultural yields by up to 60 percent.

CBM Global, Country Director Musa Abdulaziz urged journalists to simplify climate stories:

“If stories don’t show how climate change affects people personally, they won’t take action. Government must also be challenged to put money where it will make real impact.”

GIFSEP’s Executive Director, David Terungwa, advised journalists to balance disaster reporting with solution-driven stories such as climate-smart farming and renewable energy.

“Tomorrow’s Earth is today’s responsibility,” he reminded participants.

Speakers agreed that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of justice, where Nigerian journalists hold power to drive urgent action.

The 2025 Climate Media Spotlight Award went to Charles Monday Alfa of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).