The Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in Burkina Faso, Prof. Michel Filiga Sawadogo, has pledged Government’s readiness to work closely with WASCAL on issues related to climate change in West Africa.

He said the release of hectares of land in the heart of Ouagadougou for the establishment of what will become West Africa’s biggest Climate Change Resource Centre is symbolic of government’s commitment to WASCAL. He stressed the relevance of the Competence Centre and indicated that it will contribute immensely in the fight against climate change in West Africa.

The Minister also commended the German Government and the leadership of WASCAL for the initiative and for choosing Burkina Faso to build the center of excellence.

Professor Sawadogo made the remarks when the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of WASCAL paid a courtesy call on the Ministry as parts of efforts to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two outfits.

The chairman of SAC, Professor Jimmy Adegoke thanked the government for expressing keen interest in the work of WASCAL, evident in the contribution of the vast land they have allocated to WASCAL.

He also congratulated the government for being the first ECOWAS country to fulfil their financial pledge towards the sustenance and development of WASCAL.

The three day meeting formed part of efforts to strengthen the capacity and operations of the Competence Centre to serve its original purpose.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director of WASCAL, Dr. Laurent Sedogo, indicated that the Competence Centre was set up to play the steering role of WASCAL, and so there was the need to ensure that it was on the right track. The Committee also paid a courtesy call on the Honorable Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Professor Michel Filiga Sawadogo.

The chairman of the SAC, Professor Jimmy Adegoke, underscored the core mandate of the Committee as being sub-committee of the Governing Board, responsible for the provision of technical advice to the Board. The visit to the Centre was, therefore, to directly interact with the scientific staff, share ideas and experiences, assess the role and place of the Centre in the overall WASCAL science plan and programme implementation. The Committee also tasked the Researchers to develop products and services that will strategically position WASCAL as a West African think-tank in Climate Change services.

WASCAL offers Thesis Research Awards towards Doctoral and Master thesis research on climate change in West Africa to West African students enroled in a Master’s or Doctoral Program at a West African university or abroad. The Application Deadline has been postponed to February 29, 2016.

Applicants must have completed all course requirements for the degree as well as be in the research and/or writing phase of the dissertation. The dissertation must be on climate change and any of the thematic areas of biodiversity, agriculture, adapted land use, climate systems, education, human security, economics and energy. In addition, applicants should not have received any other funding to support the dissertation activities outlined in the PhD or MSc proposal/budget. Priority is given to candidates pursuing a career in government ministries, research and/or teaching at a public institution in West Africa.

Read more about the neccessary documentations and requests.

Okechukwu Nnodim

The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adaptive Land Use has called for adequate improvement in capacity building in order to effectively manage climate change and its impacts in Nigeria.

According to the WASCAL, the negative impact of climate change is currently being felt in virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy as well as on the livelihoods of citizens in the country, a situation that should be managed properly to avoid further deterioration of the environment.

Speaking on the sidelines of a one-day stakeholders’ workshop on climate change research agenda in Abuja, the Director, West African Climate System, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi, said if Nigeria failed to enhance human capacity in managing climate change, the effect of weather variation would be adversely enormous on the Nigerian economy.

He said, “What we are here to do is to see the effect of climate change on our society and this of course, is enormous. So, if we fail to train or build capacity in the area of climate change, then one can imagine the enormous implication, which this will have on not just our environment, but on our larger economy.

“For example, there were issues of flooding in 2012 and more than 18 states were overwhelmed by flood. There is also desertification, there is drought and there is rise in global temperature as well. So, if we don’t develop capacity for people to give what we call the early warning signs, one cannot imagine the extent of problem that this could create for our people and our overall economy.”

Giving further explanations on the significance of the workshop, the Director, Masters Research Programme on Climate Change and Adaptive Land Use, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Dr. Appollonia Okhimamhe, said the WASCAL programme would proffer solutions to reducing climate change impact.

She said, “We have said so much about climate change and its impact is felt in almost all sectors of the economy, whether agriculture, transportation, mining, etc.

Speaking on the economic significance of this workshop, if each year we record shortfalls in agricultural productivity, what do you think will happen? There’ll be food scarcity and our economy will be affected.

“So if we have critical information on how to prevent that, I think we would have assisted ourselves a great deal and that is where the WASCAL comes in. We are trying to close up the critical gap on climate change in Africa in order to effectively mitigate it severe impact on human existence, particularly on the West African sub-region.”

Abuja — TOWARDS ensuring that national programmes mitigate the impacts of climate change and its variability, the Federal government plans to review all existing environmental legislations in the country.

Okechukwu Nnodim

The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adaptive Land Use has called for adequate improvement in capacity building in order to effectively manage climate change and its impacts in Nigeria.

According to the WASCAL, the negative impact of climate change is currently being felt in virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy as well as on the livelihoods of citizens in the country, a situation that should be managed properly to avoid further deterioration of the environment.
Speaking on the sidelines of a one-day stakeholders’ workshop on climate change research agenda in Abuja, the Director, West African Climate System, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi, said if Nigeria failed to enhance human capacity in managing climate change, the effect of weather variation would be adversely enormous on the Nigerian economy.

He said, “What we are here to do is to see the effect of climate change on our society and this of course, is enormous. So, if we fail to train or build capacity in the area of climate change, then one can imagine the enormous implication, which this will have on not just our environment, but on our larger economy.

“For example, there were issues of flooding in 2012 and more than 18 states were overwhelmed by flood. There is also desertification, there is drought and there is rise in global temperature as well. So, if we don’t develop capacity for people to give what we call the early warning signs, one cannot imagine the extent of problem that this could create for our people and our overall economy.”

Giving further explanations on the significance of the workshop, the Director, Masters Research Programme on Climate Change and Adaptive Land Use, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Dr. Appollonia Okhimamhe, said the WASCAL programme would proffer solutions to reducing climate change impact.

She said, “We have said so much about climate change and its impact is felt in almost all sectors of the economy, whether agriculture, transportation, mining, etc.

Speaking on the economic significance of this workshop, if each year we record shortfalls in agricultural productivity, what do you think will happen? There’ll be food scarcity and our economy will be affected.

“So if we have critical information on how to prevent that, I think we would have assisted ourselves a great deal and that is where the WASCAL comes in. We are trying to close up the critical gap on climate change in Africa in order to effectively mitigate it severe impact on human existence, particularly on the West African sub-region.”

By Cornelius Essen

Abuja — TOWARDS ensuring that national programmes mitigate the impacts of climate change and its variability, the Federal government plans to review all existing environmental legislations in the country.

The proposed review would provide the needed national roadmap for sustainable development at all levels and in all key stakeholder constituencies, including engaging universities and research institute in various fields to collaborate with government on climate change.