The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), has concluded a three-day training programme aimed at strengthening students’ capacity to report environmental and climate change issues effectively.
The training, held from 18 to 20 August 2026 at the NIJ in Lagos, featured classroom sessions, practical presentations and a field visit designed to improve participants’ understanding of environmental challenges and their reporting implications.
In his welcome address, the NIJ Provost, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, said the programme was designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience in environmental journalism.
Adefaye highlighted some of Nigeria’s environmental challenges, including the drying up of Lake Chad, which he said had contributed to displacement and conflicts in affected communities.
He also criticised the disproportionate attention given to politics by some tabloids, urging journalists and journalism students to devote greater attention to environmental issues.
The provost described the participants as privileged to learn from experienced environmental practitioners, noting that similar opportunities had not been readily available to previous generations of journalists.
Experts Examine Environmental Challenges
The training featured sessions on climate change, pollution, desertification, deforestation, waste management, environmental degradation, extractive dependence, environmental laws and the use of digital platforms for climate reporting.
Speaking on “The Environment: Our Life”, the Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakor, said the environment provides humans with essential resources, including shelter, food and water, while supporting life and promoting health.
He, however, warned that human activities had accelerated environmental degradation through industrialisation, fossil fuel dependence, vehicle emissions, the discharge of sludge into rivers, deforestation, single-use plastics and indiscriminate waste disposal.
Jakor cited melting glaciers, rising temperatures, forest fires, desertification and flooding among the environmental challenges confronting communities around the world.
He recommended tree planting, reduced plastic consumption, energy conservation, environmental education and enforcement of environmental regulations as measures for protecting the environment.
“The most dangerous waste is medical waste,” he said.
Development expert Samuel Orovwuje, who spoke on “Climate Change and the Environment”, explained that climate change encompasses changes in temperature, rainfall patterns, sea levels and other environmental conditions.
He said the phenomenon was largely driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions from human activities and had implications beyond the environment, affecting economic, political, health and social systems.
Orovwuje identified volcanic eruptions, solar radiation and ocean circulation as natural factors that can influence climate, while citing fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, industrial pollution, poor waste disposal and some agricultural practices as human-driven contributors.
He urged individuals and businesses to plant trees, use public transport, recycle, conserve water and support policies aimed at protecting the environment.
Experts Warn Against Overdependence on Natural Resources
Speaking on “Extractive Dependence”, lawyer Chima Williams said Nigeria’s heavy reliance on extractive resources was putting pressure on the environment.
He noted that forests were also being treated as extractive resources through activities such as timber production, warning that continued overdependence on natural resource extraction would undermine efforts to achieve environmental sustainability.
On desertification, Faith Nwadishi said journalists needed to distinguish between drought and desertification, as the terms were often used interchangeably.
She identified drought, land degradation, desertification and coastal erosion as environmental concepts that required clearer understanding and reporting.
Nwadishi attributed desertification to factors including climate change, overdraining, pollution and weak land-use governance. She identified Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara and Adamawa among the states significantly affected by the phenomenon.
Anthony Oligbo, a lecturer at the NIJ and founder of Ecozone, an environmental sustainability club at the institution, spoke on deforestation.
He explained that forests absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, regulate climate, store carbon and help prevent soil erosion.
Oligbo traced modern environmental awareness to Rachel Carson’s 1962 book, Silent Spring, which drew attention to pollution and the harmful effects of pesticides.
He recommended tree planting, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and community education as measures for reducing deforestation.
Oligbo also encouraged journalists to explore different formats for environmental storytelling, including documentaries, short films, books, music and indigenous languages.
Students Visit Climate-Affected Community
The second day featured classroom sessions and a field visit to Okun Alfa, a climate-impacted waterfront community in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos.
The visit allowed participants to observe environmental challenges affecting the community and gain practical experience that could inform their reporting.
The final day began with a session on waste management by Anthony Akpan, President of the Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE).
Akpan described waste separation as a crucial first step in effective waste management and recommended a three-bin system for organic waste, recyclable materials and non-recyclable or hazardous waste.
He said organic waste could include food remnants, peels and garden trimmings, while plastics, glass, metals and paper could be separated for recycling.
Akpan urged households and institutions to clearly label waste bins and position them close to points where waste is generated.
He also called for greater recognition of waste management professionals and urged journalists to deepen their knowledge of environmental issues.
Focus on Women and Climate Change
Mfreke Asigbe, Executive Director of Cypress Global Health, examined the impact of environmental challenges on women, particularly in relation to climate change, extreme weather and environmental degradation.
She said women and girls could face heightened health, safety and welfare risks during environmental emergencies.
According to her, women often bear significant responsibility for caring for children, sick people and older relatives, increasing their burden during disasters.
She also highlighted challenges associated with pregnancy, childbirth and menstruation during heatwaves, flooding, displacement and disruptions to healthcare services.
Rachael Greenwood, a human rights and international development professional, examined international treaties and agreements on climate change.
She traced global environmental diplomacy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
Greenwood also discussed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities, which recognises that countries share responsibility for tackling climate change but have different capacities and historical contributions.
Journalists Urged to Understand Environmental Laws
Olaosebikan Olajuwon, Deputy Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State House of Assembly, spoke on environmental laws in Lagos State.
He stressed the importance of journalists understanding relevant environmental legislation and the mandates of government agencies responsible for pollution control, waste management, water, drainage and other environmental matters.
Among the institutions he highlighted were the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, Lagos State Wastewater Regulatory Commission, Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency and the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources.
Olajuwon urged journalists reporting environmental issues to understand the relevant laws, visit affected communities, engage stakeholders and avoid speculation.
Digital Tools for Climate Reporting
Communication consultant Paul Ashibel highlighted the importance of digital platforms in reaching wider audiences with environmental stories.
He identified Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok as useful platforms for distributing environmental reports, videos and other multimedia content.
Ashibel also urged journalists to verify information before publication, particularly in an era of widespread misinformation.
He identified tools such as reverse image search, Google Maps, Google Earth and official government websites as useful resources for verification and fact-checking.
The training brought together students primarily from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, alongside participants from Yaba College of Technology and Lagos State University.
The programme equipped participants with practical knowledge of environmental and climate challenges while emphasising the role of journalists in producing accurate, evidence-based and impactful reports.
Participants were encouraged to engage affected communities, verify information, understand environmental policies and laws, and use diverse storytelling formats and digital platforms to raise public awareness of environmental and climate-related challenges.
