For many families in Nigeria today, conversations about climate change are no longer separate from conversations about food. Rising food prices, unpredictable weather patterns, declining soil productivity, and shrinking access to productive resources are making it increasingly difficult for households to feed themselves and sustain their livelihoods. These challenges underscore the urgent need for practical, community-driven solutions that strengthen both climate resilience and food security.

To mark World Environment Day 2026, the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), with support from the French Embassy, organised a two-day community engagement in Shabu Community, Lafia, Nasarawa State. The event brought together persons with disabilities (PWDs), traditional leaders, women groups, youth, and other community stakeholders to demonstrate how local climate action can improve livelihoods while protecting the environment.

Moving beyond the conventional approach of hosting indoor commemorative events, the initiative focused on hands-on learning and action. Participants were equipped with practical knowledge and skills in urban gardening and tree planting, simple but effective climate-smart practices that households can adopt to improve food production, enhance nutrition, and build resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Through practical demonstrations and interactive learning sessions, participants explored accessible urban gardening techniques, including seedbed preparation, container gardening, sack farming, and backyard food production. They also learned sustainable approaches to soil management, crop care, and other low-cost practices that enable families to grow food even where land is limited.

A key highlight of the programme was its strong emphasis on inclusion. Persons with disabilities actively participated in the training, creating opportunities for them to acquire practical livelihood skills that are often overlooked in conventional agricultural programmes.

Seeing that knowledge alone is not enough to drive change, GIFSEP distributed home gardening starter kits to participants, enabling them to immediately begin establishing household gardens and putting their newly acquired skills into practice.

The second day shifted attention to another critical pillar of resilient communities, protecting the natural environment that sustains livelihoods. Community members gathered at the Chief’s Palace in Shabu for tree-planting demonstrations and the distribution of tree seedlings. The traditional ruler led the symbolic planting of trees within the palace compound, while other participants received seedlings to plant in their homes and communities. In total, 120 tree seedlings were distributed, contributing to local efforts to restore green spaces, improve environmental quality, and enhance resilience to climate change.

Speaking during the event, Dr. David Michael, Executive Director of GIFSEP, encouraged participants to continue applying the knowledge they had gained and to see every home garden established and every tree planted as a meaningful investment in the future of their families and communities. He emphasised that sustainable development begins with small but consistent actions that improve livelihoods while protecting the environment.

For us, the engagement reaffirmed a powerful lesson: when communities are equipped with practical skills, appropriate resources, and inclusive opportunities, climate action becomes more than an environmental response, it becomes a pathway to food security, economic empowerment, social inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods.