SDG 13: Climate Action Report of 2024/2025 Activities
The Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13): Climate Action team in Bells University meets monthly to deliberate plan and strategize on climate related issues that can be of good impact to the safety and well-being of the people in society. The team, led by Dr Folasade Ogunleye, diligently coordinate the team to develop strategic plans for the Climate Action activities of the University towards achieving parts of the 13th SDG goal of the United Nations.
The team lead joins annual meetings of policy makers and national decision-making body on climate change and related issues. The SDG 13 provided enlightenment on several aspect of the goal such as climate change mitigation (e.g., reducing emissions), adaptation strategies (e.g., building climate resilience), climate finance, Education on climate issues (e.g., awareness campaigns), disaster risk reduction and so on. Some of their main activity in 2024/2025 are:
1. SDG 13 Sensitization Seminar on Climate change
A sensitization seminar/symposium was organized in 9th October, 2024. Many secondary school students were invited to the campus to be part of this climate change awareness seminar. Twenty-three (23) secondary school representatives participated with a total of 380 students (Figure 1). This provided a huge medium to educate the teenagers on the necessary actions to be taken against the effects of climate change, catching them young.
As part of collaboration Nestle Foods company supported this seminar/symposium by supplying participants with bottled water. The students in the Climate Change Club of Bells University of Technology also collaborated with the SDG 13 for a successful symposium on awareness creating on Climate change and necessary steps to be taken as individuals, the public and the government at local, national and international levels. Several aspects of human-induced causes of climate change were discussed.
2. Attendance of 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) Meeting by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet)
In 4th of February, 2025, the Team lead and the University’s Director, Centre for Climate Change attended the Nigeria 2025 SCP meeting by the NiMet held at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre in Kado, Abuja. The theme of the key presentation was “The Role of Early Warning Towards a Climate-Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development.” The SCP provides critical forecasts on climatic variables such as rainfall and temperature, aiming to inform and guide various sectors in Nigeria. The major highlights from the 2025 NiMet SCP were:
- Rainy Season Onset and Cessation: The SCP details the expected start and end dates of the 2025 rainy season across different regions, assisting stakeholders in planning agricultural and other weather-dependent activities. The onset of rain is predicted to be delayed over the northern and central states. The predicted end of rainy season compared to the long-term average indicates that Zamfara, katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, kogi, FCT, Ekiti and Ondo states are expected to be early.
- Cropping Season Length: Insights into the duration of the cropping season are provided to aid farmers in optimizing planting and harvesting schedules.
- Rainfall Projections: The SCP document includes forecasts of total rainfall amounts for all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria, essential for water resource management and agricultural planning.
- Length of 2025 Rainy Season: The predicted length of rainy season is expected to be mostly normal over most parts of the country.
- Rainfall Amounts: The predicted 2025 annual rainfall is anticipated to be normal to below -normal rainfall in most parts of Nigeria compared to the long-term average
- Temperature Outlook (January — May): Temperature predictions for the early part of the year are outlined, offering guidance for sectors such as health and energy.
- Little Dry Season (LDS): It is expected that the (LDS) event of 2025 will only be severe over parts of Lagos and Ogun states. The number of days with little or no rainfall will range between 27 to 40 days. The average start day of the little dry season for 2025 across the southwest is July 22nd.Moderate LDS effect is expected over parts of Ogun,Oyo and Ekiti states.Osun Oyo, Kwara and parts of Ondo north are likely to experience light or mild Little Dry Season.
- Health Vigilance Forecasts: The SCP includes vigilance forecasts for malaria and meningitis, enabling health authorities to prepare for potential outbreaks.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet’s Prof. Charles Anosike, emphasized the significance of SCP’s which highlights vital weather and climate information that may affect socio-economic activities in sectors such as agriculture, aviation, disaster risk management, and health, oil & gas, telecommunication, tourism, transport, power, and water resources management.”
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, (SAN) presented a summary for policymakers and informed the audience that the SCP has been translated into pidgin English and the three major Nigerian languages—Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa. The public presentation of the SCP attracted participants from public and private sectors, development partners, non-governmental organizations, the diplomatic community, and farmers’ associations.
3. Commissioning of Weather Station of the Centre for Climate Change
The University’s collaboration with the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) resulted into the establishment of a modern meteorological station on campus by the Agency. The station was officially commissioned on 7th April, 2025 by the Director General/ CEO of NiMet: Prof. Charles Anosike, represented by his Deputy Director. The event was witnessed by the University Management, farmers, and staff and student researchers (Figure 2). The facilities provide a great opportunity for climate data for research purposes as well as some weather predictions.
4. Collaborative research and publication on Community Development and climate change
The team members worked together on community development and climate change relation study and publications. The goal for the year was Community Development, with a focus on climate change which further necessitated the joint research. Two review manuscripts produced were submitted to high impact journal for publication while others were near completion.
5. Recommendation of climate change preventive measures to the Management
i. Flood Control Project: It was observed that heavy rainfall causes significant runoff entering the campus through the Old First Gate, leading to erosion and the formation of a gully around the Adenuga Library (Central Library) building towards the B Classes. Suggestion to remedy the incident were provided.
ii. Drainage Channel Construction: The need for a concrete drainage channel behind the Colleges of Environmental Sciences (COLENVS) and that of Engineering (COLENG) buildings offices was also identified and communicated.
Figures 1(a – d). Commissioning of Weather Station at Bells University of Technology
Figures 2 (a-j): Sensitization seminar on climate change for secondary school students