A high-level symposium held in Abuja has brought together scientists, policymakers, and agricultural innovators in a bold bid to reimagine how smallholder farmers and pastoralists can adapt and thrive in an increasingly unpredictable world.
The event, themed “Climate Resilience in Action: Collaborative Approaches to Adaptation,” was co-hosted by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Michigan State University (MSU), and Sahel Consulting. With participation from government officials, development partners, and private sector actors, the symposium made it clear: the climate crisis is not a future threat—it’s a current reality demanding immediate, united action.
“Climate change is no longer an abstraction,” declared Kayode Sanni, representing AATF, during his opening remarks.
“It is personal. It is here. It is reshaping the growing season, the fertility of our soils, and the very rhythms that farmers depend on,” he added.
Sanni emphasized the acute impact on women and youth, who form the backbone of Africa’s agricultural sector. Rather than dwell on the challenges, he painted a vision rooted in innovation, partnerships, and inclusion.
At the heart of this vision is a Gates Foundation-funded initiative uniting AATF, MSU, the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Benue State University, Gombe State Government, and the Cereal Growers Association of Kenya.
Their goal: to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), especially those led by women and youth, within the rice, maize, and cowpea value chains.
“What we are doing is ensuring that farmers are no longer farming blind,” Sanni said, referencing the Climate Smart Decision Support Systems being rolled out—tools that integrate localized weather data, agronomic advice, and market access.
One standout innovation spotlighted during the event was the development of low-cost, open-source weather stations by Dr. Daniel Uyeh of Michigan State University. These stations, already active in parts of Nigeria and Kenya, are designed specifically for Africa’s diverse climates.
Uyeh said: “This is not just about weather tech. It’s about democratising data.” His goal is to establish a “dense, continent-wide mesh of real-time, community-driven climate intelligence.”
“Africa cannot afford to depend on imported satellite data alone,” he warned. “We need to own our weather, from Sokoto to the Niger Delta.”
The call for inclusive partnerships was echoed throughout the symposium, with stakeholders highlighting the critical role of private agri-tech startups like TomorrowNow and Esoko in scaling climate-smart solutions.
Broadening the conversation to livestock, Professor Eustace Iyayi, representing the Minister of Livestock Development, underscored the severe threat posed to Nigeria’s livestock sector, which supports over 30 million livelihoods and contributes 5% to national GDP.
“Climate change is straining our rangelands, drying our watering holes, and spreading transboundary diseases,” he said.
Through the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), the Ministry aims to transform the livestock sector into a \$90 billion industry by 2035. Iyayi outlined a strategic approach involving adaptation through resilient breeds and sustainable grazing, mitigation of emissions, and resilience building for vulnerable populations.
“Climate-smart livestock development is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” he added.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Director-General, Professor Charles Anosike, pointed to the need for upgraded forecasting infrastructure. “Over 60% of our weather data is still collected manually.
“This limits accuracy and delays response,” Anosike revealed.
NiMet is pushing for a country-wide network of automated weather stations, augmented by AI and mobile technology. These systems would extend benefits far beyond agriculture, impacting health, water resource management, and urban planning.
“Technology alone is not enough.
“We need partnerships—deep, sustained, cross-sector collaborations—to translate weather forecasts into life-saving decisions on the ground.”
From rice fields in Benue to grazing corridors in Yobe, the consensus was clear: siloed solutions won’t work. Africa needs a systems-based, coalition-driven approach to climate resilience.
As the symposium drew to a close, Professor Iyayi offered a powerful closing note: “Resilience is not just bouncing back. It is moving forward—stronger, wiser, and together.”
In the face of climatic shifts, a hopeful narrative is emerging—one in which weather stations are not just machines, but lifelines; where farmers are data-literate decision-makers; and where resilience is a shared, lived reality across the continent.
From the policy halls of Abuja to the sun-scorched farms of northern Nigeria, Africa’s climate warriors are mobilizing—not in fear, but with purpose.
