January 31, 2026
The Katsina State Development Management Board (KSDMB) has begun a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience efforts across all 34 local government areas of the state.
The workshop, holding at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano, brought together Climate Change Desk Officers from the 34 LGAs to enhance their technical and institutional capacity to plan, coordinate and implement climate-related interventions at the grassroots.
Speaking at the opening session, the Executive Secretary of KSDMB, Dr. Mustapha Shehu, said effective climate action in Katsina must be driven from the local level, stressing that communities are central to sustainable responses to climate challenges.
He noted that addressing climate change requires continuous and structured capacity-building, strategic multi-sectoral engagement, policy review, institutional strengthening and deliberate inclusion of young people in leadership roles.
According to him, climate change should not be viewed solely as an environmental issue but as a broader development challenge that demands coordinated planning, evidence-based decision-making and active participation by local governments.
Dr. Shehu also underscored the importance of youth involvement, describing young people as key innovators and long-term custodians of sustainable development who must be empowered to lead climate resilience initiatives.
The workshop, he added, aligns with the development agenda of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, whose administration prioritises sustainable environmental management, climate-smart agriculture and livelihoods, institutional capacity building, youth empowerment and evidence-based planning for long-term resilience.
Under the governor’s leadership, Katsina State has continued to pursue proactive climate governance strategies that integrate adaptation and mitigation into wider socio-economic development frameworks.
The training programme is designed to equip participants with practical tools for climate risk assessment and vulnerability mapping, strategies for mainstreaming climate action into local government development plans, community-based adaptation frameworks, mitigation approaches aligned with national and global commitments, and implementation roadmaps tailored to local contexts.
The initiative reflects KSDMB’s mandate to strengthen institutional capacity for effective development planning and implementation across the state, while reinforcing the role of local governments as key drivers of climate-resilient development.
Officials said the workshop demonstrates the state government’s commitment to empowering frontline officers to translate climate policies into measurable impact and to build resilient communities across Katsina State.
