By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Government agencies, scientists, civil society organisations and development stakeholders in Kaduna State have urged entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to explore emerging opportunities in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, recycling and sustainable waste management.
The stakeholders spoke at the September edition of the Kaduna Monthly Climate Hangout, organised by the ITIEC Secretariat in partnership with the Desk of Climate Change and Environment of the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), Kaduna, and African Climate Reporters (ACR).
The one-day scientific and trade engagement, themed “Empowering Entrepreneurs and SMEs through Climate-Smart Agriculture, Green Innovation, Sustainable Trade and Economic Growth,” brought together government representatives, farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, environmental specialists and other development actors.
Climate Change Creating New Business Opportunities
Speaking at the event, the Kaduna State Manager of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mallam Badamasi Yau Barau, said climate change was already having noticeable effects on agricultural production and businesses through irregular rainfall, flooding and increasing temperatures.
Barau urged entrepreneurs to look beyond the environmental challenges posed by climate change and identify business opportunities capable of addressing them.
He said the private sector had an important role to play alongside government and scientific institutions in developing practical responses to climate-related challenges.
According to him, climate-smart agriculture involves more than the deployment of modern technology, as it also requires approaches that increase food production, conserve resources and help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns.
He identified solar-powered irrigation, improved storage facilities, post-harvest management, climate-smart farming services and the conversion of agricultural waste into animal feed and compost as areas with considerable business potential.
Barau also encouraged young people and women to venture into recycling, waste management, renewable energy, sustainable packaging and other green enterprises.
He advised entrepreneurs to identify problems within their communities and develop commercially viable solutions instead of waiting for perfect conditions before starting businesses.
The SMEDAN official, however, noted that skills development alone would not address the challenges confronting SMEs, stressing the importance of access to finance, markets, technology, business registration and mentorship.
NESREA Promotes Circular Economy
The Kaduna State Coordinator of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Emmanuel Dangari, said economic development and environmental protection should be pursued simultaneously.
Dangari said Nigeria’s agricultural sector could play a significant role in moving the economy away from the conventional “take, make and dispose” model towards a circular economy in which materials are reused and waste is converted into productive resources.
He identified crop residues, animal manure and food-processing waste as materials that could be processed into compost, biogas and organic fertiliser, thereby creating additional income streams for farmers and entrepreneurs.
The NESREA coordinator also expressed concern over the increasing use of agricultural plastics, including irrigation materials and fertiliser bags, warning that improper disposal could contribute to flooding and environmental pollution.
He challenged businesses to consider what happens to plastic materials after their useful life and encouraged SMEs to explore opportunities in waste collection, recycling, sustainable packaging, biogas production and efficient irrigation.
Dangari further urged producers to embrace the Extended Producer Responsibility approach by taking greater responsibility for the waste generated by their products and packaging.
He said environmental compliance should be incorporated into business planning from the outset rather than treated as an afterthought.
IMC Seeks Broader Collaboration
Also speaking, the Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, Mr Samson Auta, called for stronger cooperation among government institutions, businesses, farmers, scientists, civil society organisations and local communities.
Auta said environmental protection should not be regarded as the responsibility of government agencies alone, noting that climate change, deforestation, pollution and other forms of environmental degradation affect communities across social, religious and economic divides.
He advocated stronger partnerships between environmental organisations, development agencies, private businesses and communities to promote sustainable practices while creating livelihood opportunities.
The IMC official also stressed the need for sustained public awareness and greater community ownership of environmental protection initiatives.
Journalists, Scientists Strengthen Climate Communication
The Head of Science and Environment Journalists at African Climate Reporters, Comrade Ibrahima Yakubu, said the September edition of the Kaduna Monthly Climate Hangout was designed to bring economic and agricultural stakeholders into direct engagement with scientists and waste-management experts.
Yakubu said farmers, marketers, entrepreneurs and SMEs needed greater awareness of the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on their respective sectors.
He noted that the monthly forum had, over the past five years, provided a platform for scientists, geologists, environmental journalists, civil society organisations, NGOs, conservationists and government officials to exchange knowledge and examine practical approaches to environmental protection.
According to him, the platform also promotes collaboration between scientists and journalists, helping to improve public access to credible information on climate change, agriculture, waste management and environmental conservation.
At the end of the engagement, participants stressed the need for closer collaboration among government agencies, businesses, farmers, financial institutions, development partners and consumers in building a climate-resilient economy.
They also called for greater integration of agriculture, processing and waste management, arguing that the sectors could collectively support a circular economy, create employment, reduce pollution and improve livelihoods.
Dangari summed up the call for a shift in approach by urging entrepreneurs to transform environmental challenges into opportunities for innovation.
“Let us move from waste to resources, from pollution to prevention, and from environmental challenges to entrepreneurial opportunities,” he said.
