By Daily Review Online
Hensard University, Toru Orua, Bayelsa State, in collaboration with the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) and the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), is to host a one-day seminar titled “Strengthening Community Flood Preparedness and Youth-Led Climate Accountability” on 23 June 2026 at the university campus.
The event aims to combine community early warning awareness, participatory climate risk mapping, and youth leadership training to enhance local resilience and promote environmental accountability in Nigeria’s flood-prone Niger Delta region.
According to the organisers, climate change has intensified flooding and environmental hazards in vulnerable communities, where poor drainage, rapid urbanisation, deforestation, and limited climate awareness have increased disaster risks.
Many communities lack structured early warning systems, localised climate information, and mechanisms for citizen engagement in environmental governance. At the same time, young people remain an underutilised force in climate action.
The seminar’s goal is also to enhance community flood preparedness and youth-led climate resilience through early warning awareness, advocacy capacity building, and nature-based action planning.
Specific objectives include improving community understanding of flood early warning signals and safety protocols; equipping youth leaders with skills in climate advocacy, citizen reporting, and environmental rights tracking; and fostering youth engagement in mangrove conservation and restoration as a coastal flood mitigation strategy.
Planned activities feature an interactive orientation on interpreting meteorological data, seasonal flood predictions, and traditional indicators; a youth leadership training session on climate justice and digital tools for citizen reporting; and a collaborative exercise to design a post-workshop community action plan for mangrove nursery development, seed collection, and monitoring.
Expected outcomes include improved community preparedness, enhanced youth capacity in advocacy and reporting, and a clear youth-led roadmap for mangrove restoration and environmental monitoring.
The project will target community members in flood-prone areas, youth leaders and organisations, women, vulnerable groups, community development committees, and local government stakeholders.
In a pre-event meeting, the Vice-Chancellor of Hensard University, Prof. Sudhakar Kota, the CSDevNet team, and the University’s Linkages and Collaboration Committee were formally introduced and recognised.
The Vice-Chancellor, stressed the immediate need for CSDevNet and Hensard academic staff – including Prof. Zubairul Islam, Prof. Ajuruchukwu Obi, and Dr. Ogechi Cookey – to collaborate on developing research proposals that could be shared with prospective funders through CSDevNet.
“Hensard University is committed to turning knowledge into practical, community-centred solutions,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
“This partnership with CSDevNet and PACJA gives our academics and students a powerful platform to address the environmental challenges facing Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta.”