Uyo Iban Amplifier Initiative Trains Women in Cross River Mining Community to Defend Forest, Environment
By Unyime Okon
Women from the mining and forest-dependent community of Obung in Akamkpa, Cross River State have been empowered with knowledge and advocacy skills to defend their environment and promote sustainable livelihoods.
Obung plays host to the Cross River National Park and its land has been a sanctuary for rock mining for decades.
Due to the attendant environment degradation from the mining activities coupled with increasing deforestation of the National Park, a Non-governmental organisation, Uyo Iban Amplifier Initiative (UIAI) held a capacity building workshop for women of the community on Friday, October 31, at Obung Town Hall with the theme “Women Capacity Building for Inclusive Environmental Justice and Accountability “.
According to Uyo Iban Amplifier Initiative (UIAI), the capacity building was designed to strengthen women’s leadership in environmental decision making, promote climate justice, and foster community driven action for sustainability.
In her presentation, the Executive Director of Partnership for Social and Environmental Development Initiative (P4SEDI), Tatu Okang, said that forests, streams and rivers are essential to community survival since they provide food, medicine, and clean water. She noted that those gifts from God are increasingly threatened by unregulated mining and deforestation.
Okang said that climate change worsens these problems, and that is why communities must be part of the decisions that affect their land.
The P4SEDI ED said women of Obung communities must rise up and take collective action by rejecting practices that will continue to destroy their forest coupled with speaking against preference for money over unregulated mining activities.
She charged Obung women to take inspiration from Ogoni women who lead the forefront against renewed oil production in Ogoniland after years of oil pollution without remediation.
The second presentation, delivered by an Environmental Activist, Ekemini Simon, titled Women as Environmental and Climate Defenders: Building Leadership and Advocacy for Environmental Justice, focused on the role of women as protectors of nature and community wellbeing.
Simon, who said that environmental justice means everyone deserves clean water, good land, and fresh air whether rich or poor, man or woman, noted that the women of Obung community are not exempted from that right.
“It is not a crime that you are blessed with rich resources that have attracted many companies to mine on your lands for years. You should not also be punished for hosting a biodiversity rich forest in your community. These are blessings and you should not allow anyone to curse them. When women protect nature, they are also protecting their families and their future”, he said.
The Environmental Activist encouraged participants to adopt peaceful advocacy tools such as storytelling, community mobilisation, and collaboration with local institutions and NGOs to demand accountability from mining companies and government agencies.
Simon also simplified Nigeria’s mining and environmental laws, noting that companies are legally required to conduct Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), pay compensation for damaged lands, and restore mined areas.
He asked the community women to adopt a storytelling method to air out their concerns through the mainstream media and social media for actions.
The session further trained participants on communication and leadership skills, including confidence building, documentation, and effective community engagement.
Speaking during the session, the Director of Quality Control at the Cross River State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Agba Agbor commended the initiative, describing it as a “call to action for women to rise as defenders of the land, the forest, and the future.”
He noted that the Ministry remains committed to inclusive environmental governance that centres women’s voices and community participation.
“True environmental protection cannot happen without women at the forefront,” Agbor said. “When women are equipped with knowledge and tools, they become powerful advocates who hold institutions and industries to higher standards of justice.”
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Coordinator of UIAI, Okoho Ene said the project was designed to strengthen women’s leadership, advocacy, and ecological actions.
“Take action,” she urged participants. “When you practice the skills you will gathered at this training, you will make the needed change in your community for a better environment and sustainable life.
Meaning, the event witnessed the inauguration of Obung Women Eco Defenders who will spearhead climate and environmental actions in the community.